Parotitis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Symptoms of parotitis include abnormal tastes,difficulty opening mouth, dry mouth, fever, mouth or facial pain (particularly when chewing or swallowing), reddening of the face or upper neck, and facial swelling in front of the ears. There may be a history of smoking, chronic illness, or poor oral hygiene in parotitis patients.

• A patient with a history of smoking may be vulnerable to parotitis from bacterial infection.^[1]
  • Smoking’s reduction in salivary flow rate will predispose the patient to parotitis.^[2]
• History of chronic illness should be considered in a parotitis patient due to the predisposition to bacterial infection.
• History of oral infections due to poor oral hygiene should be considered.

Symptoms of parotitis include the following:^[1][3]

• Abnormal tastes
• Difficulty opening mouth
• Dry mouth
• Fever
• Mouth or facial pain
  • Especially during chewing and swallowing
• Reddening of the face or upper neck
• Facial swelling
  • Particularly in front of the ears

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