From the Research
Treatment of acute parotitis involves addressing both symptoms and underlying causes, with initial management including adequate hydration, warm compresses, and pain control, and empiric antibiotic therapy started promptly for bacterial parotitis, typically with amoxicillin-clavulanate or clindamycin, as supported by 1. The choice of antibiotic depends on the etiologic agent, with Staphylococcus aureus and oral anaerobes being the most common causative organisms. Key considerations in management include:
- Maintenance of hydration
- Administration of parenteral antimicrobial therapy
- Surgical drainage if an abscess has formed
- Maintenance of good oral hygiene
- Adequate hydration to prevent recurrence Severe cases may require intravenous antibiotics such as ampicillin-sulbactam or piperacillin-tazobactam, and parotid massage and sialogogues can help stimulate saliva flow and clear ductal obstructions, as noted in 2 and 3. It is essential to address underlying factors such as medications causing dry mouth, dehydration, or poor oral hygiene in recurrent or chronic cases, and patients should maintain good oral hygiene and stay well-hydrated to prevent recurrence, as parotitis often develops when decreased salivary flow allows oral bacteria to ascend into the parotid gland, as discussed in 4 and 5.