How is sialadenitis treated, and what is it? You can find answers to these questions in the article in question. You will also learn about the reasons why this disease occurs and how it is diagnosed.
Basic information
Before telling you how sialadenitis is treated, it should be said that there are several types of salivary glands in the human body. With inflammation of one of them, you can safely prepare for the development of sialadenitis.
The parotid, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands contribute to the development of such a specific secret as saliva. It enters the oral cavity through special ducts. The main function of this secret is to ensure a normal and healthy digestive process.
As you know, saliva softens the slices of products entering the mouth, preparing them for direct entry into the stomach. It also helps a person swallow them.
If the salivary glands are susceptible to the inflammatory process , then saliva ceases to fulfill its main function. As a result, it becomes much more difficult to soften and swallow pieces of food.
Causes of inflammation
For what reasons can sialadenitis develop (treatment of this ailment will be described later)? According to experts, the parotid salivary glands are most often inflamed in humans . At the same time, doctors talk about several reasons for the development of such a pathological condition.
- Epidemic inflammation. It is caused by viral diseases and various infections. The most common cause of inflammation of the salivary glands is mumps. The virus in this disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets. In this case, the inflammatory process is accompanied by a strong increase in the size of the salivary glands.
- Non-epidemic type of disease. Such a pathology develops due to blockage of the salivary duct. Such violations often occur due to severe mechanical injuries of the salivary tract, as well as the ingress of foreign bodies into them. Also, the non-epidemic type of sialadenitis develops due to a salivary stone disease called sialolithiasis.
It cannot be said that a rather common reason for the development of the inflammatory process in the salivary glands is the irregular observance of banal rules of oral hygiene.
The main symptoms of the disease
How should sialadenitis of the parotid salivary gland be treated? The treatment of this disease should be carried out by an experienced specialist after diagnosis. You can suspect the development of this disease in yourself by the symptoms that have arisen. The most common signs of salivary gland inflammation include the following:
- dry mouth
- pain during eating and swallowing;
- difficulty opening the mouth;
- swelling of the face, redness of the neck;
- noticeable taste disturbances;
- the appearance of shortness of breath;
- the presence of an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth;
- fever.
It should also be noted that chronic sialadenitis, the treatment of which should be carried out at the very beginning of the development of the disease, is often manifested by pain in the region of the earlobe and its protrusion. In addition, with such a disease, the patient breaks the natural consistency of salivary secretion. It can be cloudy, and sometimes with purulent formations.
It should be especially noted that with the development of acute sialadenitis, symptoms can subside as abruptly and quickly as they appear. But this is far from a reason to forget about the problems that recently bothered you. After all, such a disease does not go away on its own. It can only go into a quiet stage, which in the future will inevitably lead to the development of chronic inflammation.
Complications
What is the danger of sialadenitis in children? Treatment for this disease should be immediate. After all, any form of sialadenitis can cause a number of serious complications not only in children but also in adults.
If the therapy is not started on time, and also does not follow all the doctor’s prescriptions, then the patient may develop:
- salivary gland abscess;
- phlegmon at the bottom of the oral cavity;
- repeated infectious lesion.
It should also be said that sialadenitis of the submandibular salivary gland, which should be treated by an infectious disease specialist or a dentist, can negatively affect the parotid and sublingual organs. In addition, in severe forms of this disease, inflammatory processes often occur in the National Assembly, the pancreas, kidneys, meninges and testicles.
How is it diagnosed?
Treatment of sialadenitis should begin only after its diagnosis. Only an experienced specialist can identify this disease at an early stage of its development. During the examination of the patient, the doctor observes a significant increase in the salivary glands, and sometimes the release of purulent fluid. With a bacterial infection in a person, soreness of these organs can be observed.
In the event that the doctor suspects an abscess, the patient is recommended to undergo computed tomography or ultrasound examination.
Sialadenitis treatment
The most effective treatment for the disease in question should be carried out when it is acute, and has not yet gone into a chronic course.
Treatment of calculous sialadenitis and other types of this disease consists in the use of special medicines that enhance the secretion of salivary secretion. When confirming the diagnosis, patients are prescribed 1% solution of pilocarpine or 2% potassium iodide.
It cannot be said that physiotherapy, in particular UHF, occupies a very important place in the treatment of the disease in question. To alleviate your condition, you can apply dry and warm dressings to the affected area, as well as periodically do alcohol-camphor compresses.
It is also extremely important to observe the basic rules of oral hygiene. Teeth should be cleaned not only in the evenings and in the morning, but also after each use of food (for example, using dental floss or a toothpick). In addition, for the period of treatment, smokers need to get rid of their addiction.
Compliance with these simple rules helps prevent the subsequent development of the inflammatory process.
Other therapies
How to cure sialadenitis of the submandibular? Treatment of the aforementioned ailment, as well as inflammation of the parotid and sublingual salivary glands, should be comprehensive. In addition to taking certain drugs and physiotherapy, the patient is recommended to observe the correct diet. Products that a sick person consumes should be cut into small pieces.
It should also be noted that the abundant use of warm milk or broth of wild rose, as well as fresh fruit drinks and juices, can have a beneficial effect on the salivary glands.
If a person has an increase in body temperature with sialadenitis, then the specialist must prescribe anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs to him.
Treatment of inflammation in dentistry
As mentioned above, a qualified dentist is often involved in the treatment of sialadenitis. With the development of pain, a specialist may advise rinsing the mouth with a self-prepared solution. To do this, half a dessert spoon of salt must be diluted in a glass of warm water. Regular rinsing with this solution helps relieve inflammation, as well as moisturize the oral mucosa. But, unfortunately, this tool gives only a temporary effect.
Also, to increase the production of salivary secretion, some experts recommend dissolving small pieces of fresh lemon (without the use of granulated sugar). Such procedures are preferably carried out several times a day. You should not eat lemon too often, as citrus fruits destroy tooth enamel.
Massage and surgery
In some cases, soft massage helps to get rid of pain in the salivary gland.
According to experts, the treatment of chronic sialadenitis is a laborious and complex process. Moreover, it is likely that a complete cure will not come. But, despite this, sialadenitis therapy should be carried out in order to avoid all kinds of complications, as well as to improve the quality of life of the patient.
During periods of exacerbation of this disease, the patient is shown taking antibiotic drugs, as well as drugs that increase the secretion of salivary secretion. In addition, the effect of direct current of low and low voltage on the affected area gives a good effect.
When stones are formed in the glands, specialists remove them surgically. This method is used only in the most severe cases, when the salivary gland is melted under the influence of purulent secretions, as well as when a foreign body enters the ducts. Depending on the extent of the lesion and the clinical picture, not only the foreign object itself, but also the salivary gland can be removed surgically.