Salivary Gland Disorders (Parotitis, Mumps)
What is Salivary Gland Disorders (Parotitis, Mumps)?
Salivary gland disorders affect the glands that produce saliva in your mouth. The three main pairs of salivary glands are the parotid glands, located in front of your ears, the submandibular glands under your jaw, and the sublingual glands under your tongue. These glands make saliva that helps you chew, swallow, and digest food.
Parotitis is inflammation of the parotid glands. It can happen on one side or both sides of your face. Mumps is a viral infection that causes parotitis, leading to painful swelling of these glands. Other causes include bacterial infections, blockages from stones, autoimmune conditions, and tumors. When salivary glands become inflamed or infected, they release enzymes into your bloodstream that can be measured through testing.
Most salivary gland disorders are treatable, especially when caught early. Some resolve on their own with supportive care. Others need antibiotics, stone removal, or other medical treatment. Understanding what is happening in your salivary glands helps you and your doctor choose the right approach.
Symptoms
- Swelling in front of the ears, under the jaw, or under the tongue
- Pain when eating or swallowing, especially with sour or acidic foods
- Dry mouth or reduced saliva production
- Fever and chills if infection is present
- Bad taste in the mouth or foul-smelling breath
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully
- Tender lumps in the neck or face
- Pus draining into the mouth
- Redness over the affected gland
Some people with early salivary gland problems notice only mild discomfort or occasional swelling. Symptoms can come and go, especially with blockages from stones. If you have persistent swelling or pain, testing can help identify the cause.
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Causes and risk factors
Viral infections are a common cause of salivary gland disorders. Mumps virus causes classic parotitis with bilateral swelling, though it is now rare due to vaccination. Other viruses like Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, and HIV can also affect salivary glands. Bacterial infections often develop when saliva flow decreases, allowing bacteria to travel up the ducts. Dehydration, certain medications, and chronic illnesses increase the risk of bacterial parotitis.
Salivary stones, also called sialolithiasis, block the ducts and trap saliva inside the gland. This causes swelling and pain, particularly during meals when saliva production increases. Autoimmune conditions like Sjögren syndrome attack salivary glands and reduce their function. Tumors, both benign and cancerous, can develop in salivary tissue. Risk factors include poor oral hygiene, dehydration, smoking, recent surgery, radiation to the head or neck, and immune system problems.
How it's diagnosed
Your doctor will examine your face and neck, looking for swelling, tenderness, and any lumps. They may press on the glands to check for pain or pus drainage. Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI can show stones, blockages, or masses in the glands. Blood tests help identify infection and inflammation.
Serum amylase testing measures an enzyme produced by salivary glands. Elevated amylase levels can indicate salivary gland inflammation, infection, or blockage. Because the pancreas also produces amylase, your doctor may order additional tests to determine the source. Rite Aid offers serum amylase testing as an add-on to our flagship panel. Testing at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide makes it easy to check for salivary gland issues. Your doctor may also culture any pus or fluid to identify specific bacteria.
Treatment options
- Stay well hydrated to promote saliva flow and prevent further blockages
- Apply warm compresses to swollen glands several times daily
- Massage the affected gland gently to encourage drainage
- Suck on sour candies or lemon drops to stimulate saliva production
- Practice good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing
- Take antibiotics if bacterial infection is diagnosed
- Use pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for discomfort
- Undergo stone removal procedures if blockage is present
- Consider surgical drainage or gland removal for severe or recurrent cases
- Get vaccinated against mumps to prevent viral parotitis
Need testing for Salivary Gland Disorders (Parotitis, Mumps)? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Parotitis is the medical term for inflammation of the parotid salivary glands. Mumps is a specific viral infection that causes parotitis. Not all parotitis is caused by mumps. Bacterial infections, stones, autoimmune diseases, and other viruses can also cause parotitis.
Yes, blood tests can help identify salivary gland problems. Serum amylase levels rise when salivary glands are inflamed, infected, or blocked. Your doctor may order additional tests to confirm the amylase is coming from salivary glands rather than the pancreas. Blood tests also check for signs of infection and autoimmune conditions.
It depends on the cause. Viral infections like mumps are highly contagious and spread through respiratory droplets. Bacterial infections are usually not contagious from person to person. Salivary stones, tumors, and autoimmune causes are not contagious at all.
Viral parotitis from mumps typically improves within one to two weeks with rest and supportive care. Bacterial parotitis often responds to antibiotics within a few days to a week. Chronic or recurrent parotitis may require ongoing management. Stone-related swelling usually resolves once the blockage is removed.
Yes, dehydration reduces saliva production and makes the saliva thicker. This allows bacteria to grow more easily and increases the risk of stones forming. Staying well hydrated helps your salivary glands function properly and prevents many disorders.
During acute inflammation, you may want to avoid very sour or acidic foods that trigger strong saliva production and cause pain. Stick to soft, bland foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Once symptoms improve, sour foods like lemon can actually help by stimulating saliva flow and clearing blockages.
Mumps is now rare in the United States due to widespread vaccination with the MMR vaccine. Outbreaks still occur occasionally, especially in settings where people are in close contact like colleges and camps. Most cases happen in unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated individuals.
Most salivary gland disorders are not serious and resolve with treatment. However, untreated bacterial infections can spread to surrounding tissues and cause abscesses. Mumps can rarely lead to complications like hearing loss, meningitis, or inflammation of the testicles or ovaries. Tumors require evaluation to rule out cancer.
Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing regularly. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep saliva flowing. Get vaccinated against mumps with the MMR vaccine. If you take medications that cause dry mouth, ask your doctor about alternatives or use saliva substitutes.
See a doctor if you have swelling that lasts more than a few days, pain that interferes with eating, fever, pus draining into your mouth, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Also seek care if swelling returns frequently or you notice a hard lump in your salivary gland.