Sialadenitis Definition
It refers to a condition marked by inflammation of the salivary glands, or the glands that produce saliva in the mouth. The disease is also known as Sialoadenitis.
Sialadenitis ICD 9 Code
The ICD 9 code for Sialadenitis is 527.2.
Sialadenitis Types
The various types of Sialadenitis are:
Bacterial Sialadenitis
As the name indicates, it is caused due to bacterial infection. The condition occurs into two forms that are known as:
Acute Bacterial Sialadenitis
This rare condition mainly affects the Parotid Gland and is caused mainly due to Staphyloccus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacterial infection.
Chronic Bacterial Sialadenitis
The condition primarily involves the submandibular gland and leads to a reduction of the flow of saliva. It most often occurs due to blockage of the salivary duct caused by duct stones, a condition known as Salivary Calculi.
Viral Sialadenitis
It is a common acute viral disease that is popularly known as Mumps. It primarily affects the parotid glands and is highly infectious. It is the most common cause of acute parotid swelling.
Postirradiation Sialadenitis
It is a common complication of radiotherapy. It involves infection in highly damaged salivary glands which is often irreversible but causes less damage. The function of salivary gland may return to some degree after several months.
What is Chronic Sclerosing Sialadenitis?
It is a fibroinflammatory disorder affecting the salivary glands. It was first recognized in 1896 by Kuttner and is, hence, also known as Kuttner’s tumor (KT). It appears as a benign tumor-like lesion and mainly affects the Submandibular gland, a salivary gland located inside the lower jaw that releases saliva under the tongue into the mouth.
What is Lymphoepithelial Sialadenitis?
It is an autoimmune lesion. It is said to be a component of Sjogren Syndrome and features a benign lymphoid infiltrate of salivary glands along with Lymphocytic Epitheliotropism.
Sialadenitis Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms of Sialadenitis include:
- Facial pain, with pain originating in the entire angle of the jaw or underneath the jaw
- Tenderness
- Inflammation over the salivary glands
The symptoms of this condition may vary depending on the intensity of an infection. Most individuals suffer from a little pain while opening their mouths. Additional symptoms may include
- Noticeable facial inflammation
- Redness of skin
- Dryness of mouth
- Persistent bad taste in mouth
In case of acute infections, fever is also common. If an infected gland is left untreated, a pus-filled abscess may develop that may drain into the mouth and the throat.
Sialadenitis Causes
Know about the causes of various types of this condition.
Bacterial Sialadenitis Causes
Most cases of Acute Sialadenitis result due to bacterial attacks, especially infections caused by the Staphylococcus variety. Some of the primary causes of bacterial infection are
- Poor oral hygiene
- Weakened immunity
- Obstruction or abnormalities in duct or gland
- Sjögren syndrome
Bacterial infection is also found to occur due to dehydration after an abdominal surgery or Radiotherapy conducted for salivary gland or oral cancer.
Viral Sialadenitis Causes
The condition also arises due to viral infections such as HIV, Herpes or Mumps. These may give rise to sudden salivary gland inflammation.
Postirradiation Sialadenitis Causes
It is directly associated with the dose of radiation administered to a patient
Chronic Sialadenitis Causes
Chronic Sialadenitis often results from obstruction of the salivary glands caused by
- Salivary stones
- Hard deposits of minerals like calcium
In rare cases, a person can experience this condition as a side effect of reaction of immune system to medicines administered for the treatment of other glandular conditions.
Sialadenitis Diagnosis
An infection of the salivary gland is usually diagnosed by a dentist or general physician. Healthcare providers generally diagnose the condition by touching the face of the patients, asking them about the symptoms as well as testing blood and saliva to detect bacterial presence. If the diagnosis is found to be difficult to confirm, patients can be referred to specialists for further testing. Computerized tomography (CT) scans of the neck and head are also conducted to ascertain the severity of inflammation and seek possible cancerous symptoms.
Sialadenitis Treatment
Treatment for Sialadenitis involves use of medications like antibiotics, analgesics (such as Acetaminophen) or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines). These help alleviate pain and cure fever. Severe cases of infection may require surgery.
Treatment usually depends on the type of Sialadenitis that a patient has been affected with.
Bacterial Sialadenitis Treatment
Most cases of bacterial infection can be cured by good oral hygiene and use of antibiotics. Any soft inflammation should be drained through surgical means. It is important to use supportive therapy, in the form of painkillers, adequate fluid intake and practice of proper oral hygiene. Once the acute condition resolves, it is important to detect and resolve the causative factors, such as duct stones.
Viral Sialadenitis Treatment
The intensity of symptoms caused by viral infections is usually reduced with the aid of medications. The cheeks of a patient may be massaged and warmed with a hot compress to help lessen pain and inflammation.
Chronic Sialadenitis Treatment
Treatment of this condition can vary depending on the location of the duct stone. If the stone is found to be positioned within the duct, the duct can be removed altogether. If the stone is within the gland, the entire gland requires to be surgically removed.
An acute infection may require hospitalization and immediate surgery for correction. Surgery involves extraction of the pus from within the abscess through needle aspiration of the gland. In less common cases, partial or total surgical removal of a salivary gland may become necessary to cure an infection.
Sialadenitis Management
Patients who undergo surgery are generally prescribed antibiotics. They require follow-up visits to make sure that the condition has resolved. With practice of good hygiene and regular trips to a dentist, most sufferers do not experience recurrence of the condition.
With proper treatment and lifestyle modifications, most cases of Sialadenitis resolve quickly. If you are suffering from respiratory or swallowing difficulties, immediately contact a doctor. If the cause is Sialadenitis, early cure will definitely help you achieve a faster recovery.
i have a friend [65] who has been diagnosed with Sialadenitis. He has already undergone some type of surgery overseas where they removed a rotted triangular shape kind of lymph node or salivary glad – very tiny one and green on the pic radiologist provided. However, symptoms of excessive thick and constant salivation have not gone away on this person’s left side of mouth [under the tongue] are still ongoing. This gentleman was told overseas [and he has radiologist evaluation] that node or piece removed was rotted but it was benign. My concern is that this constant salivation which chokes him all the time and makes him cough often, will eventually turn into a major disease. He went to a head and neck specialist and radiologist report says nothing abnormal was found on MRI. That’s what’s got this man dumbfound because per his US physician, there’s no explanation for the constant drooling/salivation all day long except when he’s asleep. He has insurance but has lost trust and faith in US physicians and is strongly considering going overseas for further surgery. He’s been told of the risk regarding damage to the facial nerve which could cause temporary paralysis. I have recommended he brings recent MRIs of his salivary glands to another or a different specialist…
Brush twice a day . Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner.
Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking. Check with your dentist about the use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (where decay often starts) to protect them from decay. great stuff thank you.