The parotid glands secrete alpha-amylase to break down starches. Inflammation is usually caused by infection, but can also be autoimmune. Symptoms include painful swelling and redness, and treatment includes pain relief, hydration, and antibiotics. Surgery may be an option for chronic cases.
The major salivary glands in the face, located behind the jaw, are called the parotid glands. These glands secrete an enzyme called alpha-amylase, which begins the process of breaking down starches as food is chewed in the mouth. Very few medical conditions are associated with these glands; the most common is an inflammatory disease called mumps.
Inflammation of the parotid gland is most often the result of an infection. More rarely, the inflammation can be caused by an autoimmune disease. There is also a nonspecific form of parotid disease that causes chronic inflammation with seemingly no underlying cause.
Symptoms of the condition include painful swelling and redness of the skin over the gland. The pain is exacerbated by chewing and the glands are tender to the touch. When the cause of the inflammation is a bacterial infection, the saliva is often yellow in color and thicker than the saliva secreted by a healthy gland. If the inflammation is not caused by an infection, your saliva may be normal or nearly normal in color and viscosity.
Infectious inflammation of the parotid is commonly caused by a viral infection with mumps, which also often causes fever, headache, and testicular swelling. Infectious mumps can also be caused by a bacterial infection; in most cases the infectious agent is Staphylococcus aureus. People with HIV or tuberculosis have an increased risk of infectious parotid inflammation. These infections can also cause recurrent mumps, in which the gland is constantly inflamed, or is susceptible to repeated episodes of infection.
While some cases of recurrent inflammation are associated with infection, most occur in conjunction with autoimmune diseases. When the inflammation has an autoimmune cause, the condition is most likely Sjogren’s syndrome. This disease usually develops in people between the ages of 40 and 60, but can also occur in children. Autoimmune parotid inflammation develops due to sensitization of immune cells to cells of the parotid gland. The immune system attacks the parotid cells, causing chronic or recurring inflammation.
Treatment of mumps is usually limited to providing relief from pain and tenderness of the parotid glands. When the inflammation is an isolated case caused by an infection, sufficient treatment might include pain medication, adequate hydration, and the application of heat. In most cases, the mumps infection clears up without further treatment. If the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is often used in conjunction with symptomatic relief.
Chronic or recurring cases of mumps can also be treated this way if the episodes are not severe. Some people opt for surgery to remove or alter chronically inflamed parotid glands, due to the highly unpleasant nature of the chronic symptoms. The most common surgery performed for this condition is one in which the outer portion of the gland is removed, leaving the so-called deep lobe intact, which is usually not involved in the infection.
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