From the Research
The treatment of parotitis should be guided by its cause, with supportive care and antibiotics being the cornerstone of management, as recommended by the most recent study 1. The goal of treatment is to address the underlying cause while managing symptoms and preventing complications like abscess formation or spread of infection to adjacent structures. For viral parotitis (like mumps), treatment includes:
- Adequate hydration
- Warm or cold compresses to reduce inflammation
- Analgesics such as acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) or ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours) for pain and fever
- Soft foods to minimize chewing discomfort Bacterial parotitis requires antibiotics, typically empiric therapy with amoxicillin-clavulanate (875/125mg twice daily for 7-10 days) or clindamycin (300-450mg four times daily) if penicillin-allergic, targeting common pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, as identified in studies 2, 3. Severe cases may need intravenous antibiotics and hospitalization. For parotitis related to salivary duct obstruction, sialogogues like lemon drops or sugar-free candies can stimulate saliva flow, along with gentle massage of the gland. Adequate oral hygiene is essential in all cases. Surgical drainage may be necessary for abscess formation, as noted in 2, 4. Chronic autoimmune parotitis (as in Sjögren's syndrome) may require immunomodulatory therapy. The most recent study 1 emphasizes the importance of treating the underlying etiology, optimizing predisposing factors, controlling pain, and increasing salivary flow with sialagogues, hydration, massage, warm compresses, oral hygiene, and medication adjustment. Sialendoscopy is a gland-sparing technique that can treat obstructive and nonobstructive disorders, as mentioned in 1.