What is suppurative parotitis?

Suppurative parotitis is an inflammatory disease of the parotid gland caused by bacterial infection, and is divided into two types: acute suppurative parotitis and chronic suppurative parotitis. Acute suppurative parotitis is less common and mainly caused by pyogenic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. It commonly occurs in patients with severe illnesses or those who have undergone major surgery. Symptoms include high fever, chills, redness, swelling, and pain in the parotid region. If not treated promptly, it may lead to glandular tissue necrosis and spread of infection. Chronic suppurative parotitis is more common and often results from poor salivary drainage due to stones, scarring, or transformation from acute suppurative parotitis. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of parotid swelling, mild pain, slight redness at the duct opening, and discharge of cloudy saliva. Treatment for suppurative parotitis includes medication, conservative management, and incision and drainage, aiming to control infection, relieve symptoms, and prevent complications.