How to differentiate between mumps and dry mouth syndrome
Disease description:
Recently, I have often experienced dry mouth and swelling of the salivary glands. After visiting the hospital, I was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome. I would like to know how to differentiate between parotitis and Sjögren's syndrome?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Guo Huijie
Mumps and Sjögren's syndrome are two distinct diseases that can be differentiated according to the following key points:
1. **Etiology**: Mumps is primarily caused by infection with the mumps virus and is an acute infectious disease. In contrast, Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease; its exact cause remains unclear, but it may be related to multiple factors such as heredity, endocrine factors, and viral infections.
2. **Symptoms**: The typical symptoms of mumps include swelling and pain in the parotid glands, usually starting on one side and possibly spreading to the other side, accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle pain. Sjögren's syndrome mainly presents with dry mouth, dry eyes, swelling of the salivary glands, and arthritis, with symptoms lasting for a prolonged period.
3. **Complications**: Mumps may lead to complications such as meningitis, orchitis, and oophoritis. Sjögren's syndrome can affect multiple systems including the lungs, liver, and kidneys, and may be complicated by rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other conditions.
4. **Treatment**: Treatment for mumps mainly involves antiviral therapy and symptomatic management to relieve symptoms. Currently, there is no cure for Sjögren's syndrome, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms through symptomatic therapy.
