From the Guidelines
The treatment of parotid gland enlargement due to mumps is primarily supportive care, as it is a viral infection that typically resolves on its own within 7-10 days. Symptomatic relief includes acetaminophen (500-1000 mg every 4-6 hours, not exceeding 4000 mg daily) or ibuprofen (400-600 mg every 6-8 hours with food) to reduce pain and fever, as recommended by general medical guidelines 1. Apply warm or cold compresses to the swollen area for 15-20 minutes several times daily to alleviate discomfort. Ensure adequate hydration and recommend soft, bland foods that require minimal chewing to reduce pain during eating. Avoid acidic or spicy foods that may stimulate saliva production and worsen pain. Bed rest is advisable during the febrile period. In severe cases with significant pain or difficulty swallowing, short-term oral corticosteroids might be considered, though this is not routine practice. Mumps has no specific antiviral treatment, and antibiotics are not effective as it's caused by a virus. Patients should be isolated for at least 5 days after parotid swelling begins to prevent transmission, as the virus can be isolated from saliva from 7 days before through 8 days after onset of salivary gland swelling 1. Complications like orchitis, meningitis, or pancreatitis require additional specific management and possibly hospitalization.
Some key points to consider in the management of mumps include:
- The importance of supportive care in managing symptoms
- The need for isolation to prevent transmission
- The potential for complications, such as orchitis, meningitis, or pancreatitis, which require specific management
- The lack of specific antiviral treatment or effectiveness of antibiotics in treating mumps, as noted in the context of viral infections 1.
Overall, the focus should be on providing supportive care and managing symptoms, while also taking steps to prevent transmission and monitor for potential complications.
From the Research
Treatment for Parotid Gland Enlargement due to Mumps
The treatment for parotid gland enlargement due to mumps (epidemic parotitis) is primarily supportive, focusing on alleviating symptoms and managing complications. Key aspects of treatment include:
- Supportive management, as seen in a case where a 22-year-old woman responded to supportive management and her symptoms resolved over the course of her admission 2
- Conservative treatment, which was effective in managing cases of acute unilateral parotid gland enlargement following endotracheal general anesthesia 3
- Adequate hydration, antibiotics, and analgesics, which were used to manage two cases of bilateral enlargement of parotid glands post-operatively 4
- Surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy, which were necessary in a rare case of a 10-month-old infant with mumps who developed a parotid abscess 5
Management of Symptoms
Symptoms of parotid gland enlargement due to mumps can be managed with:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which were used to treat a patient with acute unilateral parotid gland enlargement following endotracheal general anesthesia 3
- Analgesics, which were part of the conservative management approach for bilateral enlargement of parotid glands post-operatively 4
- Antibiotics, which may be necessary if there is a risk of secondary bacterial infection, as seen in the case of a 10-month-old infant with a parotid abscess 5