Sialadenitis (Salivary Gland Infection)

“Sialadenitis” is the medical term for an infection in one or more of your salivary glands. These glands produce saliva (spit). Spit helps you swallow and digest food. It also keeps your mouth clean and protects your teeth from harmful bacteria.

This disease typically affects your parotid and submandibular glands. Your parotid glands are just below and in front of each ear. Your submandibular glands are under your jaw.

Sialadenitis (pronounced “sah-uh-la-den-IT-tis”) is rare. It’s not typically serious. But without treatment, the infection can spread to deep tissues in your neck and block your airway.

Symptoms of sialadenitis

Symptoms of this disease may include:

• Your cheek or jaw feels swollen and tender to your touch
• Fever
• Decreased spit or dry mouth
• Pain when you chew
• Bad taste or feeling like there’s grit in your mouth
• Pus in your mouth

Sialadenitis that spreads to your neck tissues is a medical emergency if swelling in your neck blocks your airway. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if it’s hard to breathe.

Sialadenitis causes

Some common causes are infections, salivary gland blockage or an autoimmune disorder:

• Bacterial infection: The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of an acute (sudden) salivary gland infection. Viral infections like mumps, flu and Epstein-Barr virus may cause this disease.
• Salivary gland obstruction: A salivary stone or narrowing of your salivary gland duct can lead to an infection.
• Sjögren’s syndrome: This autoimmune disease damages glands that produce moisture.

Risk factors

Your age and health issues that cause dry mouth may increase your risk of sialadenitis. Risk factors include:

• Age: People age 50 and older, especially those with salivary gland stones, are more likely to develop this disease.
• Dry mouth: Normally, saliva washes away bacteria. Dry mouth causes thick saliva that doesn’t remove bacteria. Saliva with bacteria can back up into your glands and cause infection. Certain medications may cause dry mouth.
• Other health issues: Dehydration, malnutrition, recent illnesses or surgeries, or taking certain medications may increase your risk.

Sialadenitis complications

Without treatment, the infection in your salivary gland can spread to tissues deep in your neck. The infection can make those tissues swell and block your airway.

How doctors diagnose sialadenitis

A healthcare provider will do a physical exam. They’ll ask about your symptoms and your health history. They may use an endoscope to check your salivary glands. An endoscope is a flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light.

Your provider may do a salivary gland scan. The scan shows how saliva moves through your salivary glands.

They may refer you to an otolaryngologist (ENT) for more tests. An ENT is a provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect your ears, nose and throat.

How is sialadenitis treated?

Treatments vary, but may include:

• Antibiotics: This is a treatment for a bacterial infection.
• IV Fluids: Fluids — usually a combination of saline and dextrose (salt and sugar in water) — help with dehydration.
• Sialendoscopy: This is a noninvasive procedure to remove salivary gland stones or open a narrow gland.
• Surgery: This is a treatment option if the infection causes an abscess in your salivary gland. Your surgeon will drain the abscess. They’ll also remove any stones that may block your gland.

Recovery time

Your recovery depends on your treatment. You may feel better in a week if you have antibiotics for a bacterial infection. It may take a week to recover from a sialendoscopy and up to two weeks to recover from surgery to drain an abscess or remove a stone.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Contact a healthcare provider if you have painful facial swelling and a fever that lasts three days or more.

What can I expect if I have this disease?

Antibiotics or surgery may cure sialadenitis, but it can come back. You may have recurrent sialadenitis, which requires regular follow-up with your healthcare provider.

Is there anything I can do to feel better?

A salivary stone that blocks a gland can cause sialadenitis. There are home treatments that can help move the stone and ease pain:

• Salivary gland massage: Gently press the area of your jaw where there’s a stone. Massaging the swollen gland may help remove the stone.
• Boost your spit: Drinking lemon juice or sucking on a lemon drop may help your glands make more spit.
• Use warm compresses: Make a compress by soaking a washcloth in water. Wring it out and place it on your jaw or cheek. The compress may help the stone move from your gland. The warmth helps with pain.

Is it contagious?

Sialadenitis from a viral infection can be contagious if sneezing and coughing spread infected saliva.