Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Other Specific Conditions
Number of Conditions: 3
Sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands)
Specialty: Nose and Throat
Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions
Sub-category: Other Specific Conditions
Symptoms:
pain and swelling in the mouth or jaw; dry mouth; difficulty swallowing; bad taste or mouth odor; fever; redness over the gland
Root Cause:
Inflammation of one or more of the salivary glands, often caused by infection, blockage, or dehydration. Commonly affects the parotid or submandibular glands.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation with physical examination; imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scan; sometimes salivary gland duct culture if infection is suspected.
Treatment:
Antibiotics (for bacterial infections), warm compresses, hydration, massage of the gland, and if a duct is blocked, sialogogues (lemon drops or sour candies) may help. In some cases, surgical drainage or removal of the obstructed gland may be necessary.
Medications:
Antibiotics such as dicloxacillin, cephalexin (penicillinase-resistant antibiotics), or clindamycin (for broader coverage). Analgesics like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain management, and in severe cases, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively uncommon; affects adults, with an increased risk in the elderly, especially those with poor hydration or dehydration.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, poor oral hygiene, salivary duct obstruction (stones), immune system suppression, Sjogren’s syndrome, or viral infections (e.g., mumps).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases are treatable with antibiotics and supportive care; chronic cases may require long-term management or surgical intervention.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Abscess formation, chronic sialadenitis, or, in rare cases, a malignancy if left untreated for an extended period.
Ludwig’s angina (infection of the floor of the mouth)
Specialty: Nose and Throat
Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions
Sub-category: Other Specific Conditions
Symptoms:
severe neck pain; difficulty swallowing; swelling of the neck and jaw; fever; difficulty breathing; muffled voice; drooling
Root Cause:
A rapidly spreading, severe infection of the submandibular, sublingual, and submental spaces, often following dental infections or trauma.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation; imaging (CT scan or MRI) may help define the extent of the infection and identify any abscess formation.
Treatment:
Immediate intravenous antibiotics (broad-spectrum, such as penicillin with metronidazole or clindamycin). Surgical drainage of abscesses or infected tissue may be necessary.
Medications:
Intravenous antibiotics like ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftriaxone , or clindamycin (broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting anaerobes and aerobes). Pain management with opioids or NSAIDs.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, but life-threatening if not treated promptly; most commonly affects adults, particularly those with dental infections, diabetes, or immunocompromised states.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor dental hygiene, untreated dental infections, diabetes, immunosuppression, oral trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
High mortality if untreated; with timely treatment, the prognosis is good, though recovery may take several weeks.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Airway obstruction, sepsis, spread of infection to surrounding tissues, facial cellulitis, or mediastinitis.
Zenker’s diverticulum (esophageal pouch)
Specialty: Nose and Throat
Category: Throat (Pharyngeal and Laryngeal) Conditions
Sub-category: Other Specific Conditions
Symptoms:
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); regurgitation of undigested food; bad breath; coughing or choking while eating; lump in the neck
Root Cause:
A pouch that forms in the posterior wall of the esophagus at the junction between the esophagus and the pharynx due to increased pressure in the esophagus. This typically occurs in older adults.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Barium swallow radiograph or esophagoscopy to visualize the diverticulum. Sometimes CT or MRI scans may be used.
Treatment:
Surgical treatment is often required, such as diverticulectomy (removal of the diverticulum) or a myotomy (cutting the muscle to relieve pressure). Endoscopic stapling or laser surgery may be used in less invasive cases.
Medications:
No specific medications for treatment; however, proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole ) or antacids may be used for reflux management. Analgesics (NSAIDs or opioids) for post-surgical pain management.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; most commonly occurs in individuals over the age of 60, with a higher incidence in men.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (most common in older adults), esophageal motility disorders, increased pressure in the esophagus due to chronic coughing or swallowing difficulties.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good after surgery, but long-term monitoring for complications (such as aspiration pneumonia or recurrent diverticulum) may be necessary.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Aspiration pneumonia, esophageal perforation, recurrent diverticulum, chronic regurgitation, or malnutrition due to difficulty swallowing.