WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Sialoadenitis is an inflammation or infection of one or more of your salivary glands. A small stone can block the salivary gland and cause inflammation. Infection may be caused by a virus or bacteria. You can develop sialoadenitis on one or both sides of your face. You may have sialoadenitis once, or it may come back and last a long time.
Manage your sialoadenitis:
It is important to manage your sialoadenitis to help prevent future infections.
- Drinking liquids: Adults should drink about 9 to 13 cups of liquid each day. One cup is 8 ounces. Good choices of liquids for most people include water, juice, and milk. Coffee, soup, and fruit may be counted in your daily liquid amount. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should drink each day.
- Keep your mouth moist: Suck on hard candy or chew sugarless gum to get your saliva flowing. Sour and tart flavors such as lemon and orange will help get saliva to flow. This will help keep your mouth moist and help push out a stone blocking your salivary duct.
- Rinse your mouth: Use water or mouthwash to clean out pus that may be draining into your mouth.
- Massage your jaw: Massage the area of your swollen gland. This may help relieve swelling and pain by pushing the pus out of the gland.
- Apply heat: Place a warm, moist cloth on the area.
- NSAIDs help decrease swelling and pain or fever. This medicine is available with or without a doctor's order. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinner medicine, always ask your healthcare provider if NSAIDs are safe for you. Always read the medicine label and follow directions.
- Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin, salicylates, or oil of wintergreen.
- Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take away or decrease pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.
- Antibiotics: This medicine will help fight an infection. You will be given antibiotics if your sialoadenitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Take your antibiotics until they are gone, even if you feel better.
- Take your medicine as directed. Call your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Follow up with your primary healthcare provider or ear, nose, and throat specialist as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
Contact your primary healthcare provider or ear, nose, and throat specialist if:
- The pain and swelling do not go away within 2 days, or they get worse.
- Your mouth and eyes are very dry.
- You lose movement on one side of your face.
- You have questions about your condition or care.
Return to the emergency department if:
- You have a fever.
- Your salivary gland gets red and hot or drains pus.
- You have trouble opening your mouth because of swelling.
- You have trouble breathing or swallowing because of swelling.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.