Frequency of Mumps Infection by Salivary Gland
Parotid Gland Involvement is Predominant
The parotid gland is by far the most commonly affected salivary gland in mumps infection, occurring in 60-70% of symptomatic cases, while submandibular and sublingual gland involvement is significantly less frequent. 1
Specific Gland Involvement Patterns
Parotid Gland (Most Common)
- Parotitis represents the hallmark manifestation of mumps, with the parotid gland being the primary target of viral tropism 1, 2
- Parotid involvement occurs in approximately 60-70% of all mumps infections that produce symptoms 1
- The classic presentation is bilateral parotid swelling, though unilateral involvement occurs less commonly 3
- In adults specifically, parotid salivary gland disorder was documented as the most common manifestation 4
Submandibular Gland (Uncommon)
- Submandibular gland involvement in mumps is distinctly uncommon and rarely reported in the literature 5
- One case report documented unilateral, synchronous parotid and submandibular gland swelling as "a very unusual presentation, and not one previously reported in the literature" 5
- The rarity of this presentation underscores that isolated or combined submandibular involvement is exceptional rather than typical 5
Sublingual Gland (Rare, Age-Dependent)
- Sublingual gland inflammation (sublinguitis) was identified as the most common salivary gland manifestation specifically in children in one study, though this represents an unusual finding 4
- This age-specific pattern contrasts sharply with the typical parotid predominance seen across all age groups 4
- Overall, sublingual involvement remains rare compared to parotid disease 4
Critical Clinical Caveats
Absence of Salivary Gland Involvement is Common
- Only 30-40% of mumps infections produce the typical acute parotitis, meaning the majority of cases do not present with classic gland swelling 1, 3
- Approximately 15-20% of mumps infections are completely asymptomatic with no gland involvement 1, 3
- Up to 50% of infections present with nonspecific or primarily respiratory symptoms without any salivary gland manifestation 1, 3
Age-Related Presentation Differences
- Parotitis occurs most commonly among children aged 2-9 years 3
- Inapparent infection without gland involvement may be more common among adults than children 3
- The severity of disease generally increases with age, though the pattern of gland involvement remains parotid-predominant 1
Diagnostic Implications
- Because parotitis can have multiple infectious and noninfectious causes, and mumps presentation is highly variable, serologic confirmation is strongly preferred over clinical diagnosis based solely on gland swelling 3
- One study found that one-third of persons with clinically diagnosed mumps had no serologic evidence of recent mumps infection 3