Condition Lookup

Mumps

Sub-category: Salivary Gland Infections

Symptoms:
swollen, painful salivary glands (often parotid); fever, headache, muscle aches; fatigue and loss of appetite

Root Cause:
Viral infection caused by the mumps virus.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical symptoms, confirmed with blood tests, saliva PCR, or viral culture.

Treatment:
Supportive care, including hydration, pain relievers, and fever reducers; no specific antiviral treatment.

Medications:
Analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen ) to manage pain and fever.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in countries with widespread MMR vaccination; more common in areas with low vaccine coverage.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, exposure to infected individuals.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Typically self-limiting; resolves within 1-2 weeks.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Orchitis, oophoritis, aseptic meningitis, hearing loss, or pancreatitis.

Sialadenitis

Specialty: Dental and Oral Health

Category: Salivary Gland Disorders

Sub-category: Salivary Gland Infections

Symptoms:
pain and swelling in the affected salivary gland (usually the parotid or submandibular); redness and tenderness; fever and pus drainage in severe cases

Root Cause:
Bacterial or viral infection, ductal obstruction, or reduced salivary flow.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, imaging (e.g., ultrasound or CT scan), or culture of pus if present.

Treatment:
Antibiotics for bacterial infections, hydration, warm compresses, gland massage, and sialogogues (to stimulate saliva).

Medications:
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin-clavulanate or clindamycin (antibacterial agents) for bacterial causes.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; incidence increases with age.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, ductal obstruction (e.g., stones), chronic illnesses, poor oral hygiene.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; chronic cases may require surgical intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Abscess formation, recurrent infections, or ductal scarring.

Sialolithiasis

Specialty: Dental and Oral Health

Category: Salivary Gland Disorders

Sub-category: Salivary Gland Obstructions

Symptoms:
recurrent pain and swelling in the affected gland, especially during meals; reduced saliva flow; may lead to infection (sialadenitis) if untreated

Root Cause:
Formation of calcified stones in the salivary gland ducts, causing obstruction.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, imaging (e.g., ultrasound, X-rays, or CT scan).

Treatment:
Removal of stones via sialogogues, gland massage, or minimally invasive procedures like lithotripsy or surgery.

Medications:
Pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen ) and antibiotics if secondary infection occurs.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common; more frequent in adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, reduced saliva flow, certain medications (e.g., diuretics, antihistamines), smoking.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment; recurrence is possible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrent infections, glandular abscess, or chronic sialadenitis.

Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

Specialty: Dental and Oral Health

Category: Salivary Gland Disorders

Sub-category: Other Salivary Gland Conditions

Symptoms:
dry or sticky feeling in the mouth; difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking; bad breath; sore throat; cracked lips; altered sense of taste; increased risk of dental cavities

Root Cause:
Reduced or absent saliva production caused by salivary gland dysfunction, dehydration, certain medications, or underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, saliva flow measurement, imaging (sialography, ultrasound), and sometimes lab tests to assess underlying conditions.

Treatment:
Address underlying causes, maintain oral hygiene, stimulate saliva production, and use saliva substitutes.

Medications:
Pilocarpine (a cholinergic agonist to stimulate salivary glands), cevimeline (muscarinic agonist). Both medications help to increase saliva production.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in older adults; prevalence varies between 10–30%.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, medication use (antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics), radiation therapy to the head/neck, autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjögren's syndrome).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally manageable with proper treatment; chronic dry mouth can increase the risk of dental complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of dental caries, gum disease, oral infections (e.g., candidiasis), and difficulty eating or speaking.

Salivary Gland Tumors

Specialty: Dental and Oral Health

Category: Salivary Gland Disorders

Sub-category: Other Salivary Gland Conditions

Symptoms:
painless lump or swelling in the salivary gland; facial asymmetry; difficulty swallowing; numbness or weakness in the face if malignant

Root Cause:
Abnormal cell growth in salivary glands; most are benign (e.g., pleomorphic adenoma), but some can be malignant (e.g., mucoepidermoid carcinoma).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, imaging (ultrasound, MRI, CT), and fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Treatment:
Surgery is the primary treatment, with radiation therapy for malignant cases.

Medications:
No specific medications for benign tumors; chemotherapy agents (e.g., cisplatin , fluorouracil ) for advanced malignancies.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumor, accounting for 60–70% of cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Radiation exposure, genetic predisposition, tobacco and alcohol use for malignant cases.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent for benign tumors with surgical removal; varies for malignant tumors based on stage and type.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence (benign tumors), facial nerve damage, metastasis (malignant tumors).