Diagnosis
The suspicion of an inflammation of the salivary glands results from the typical symptoms described above and is determined by the person concerned. In order to finally confirm the diagnosis, a doctor should always be consulted. This doctor will first carry out a detailed examination of the affected gland.
The gland must be palpated. Occasionally a purulent fluid is emptied through this, which is sent to the laboratory. This can then be used to detect the pathogen.
In addition, a check is made to see whether there are any other abnormalities in the oral cavity that could possibly explain the salivary gland inflammation. In some cases, a blood test can help to make a diagnosis. An ultrasound examination is performed to exclude or detect salivary stones.
This examination is able to detect stones with a size of 1.5 millimeters or more with a certainty of over 99%. It also serves to differentiate between a salivary stone and a tumor or abscess. A further possibility to visualize salivary stones (sialolith) is the so-called sialography. This involves injecting a liquid with a contrast medium into the affected salivary gland, which allows the gland and its entire duct system to be visualized with the aid of an X-ray image. In exceptional cases, one of the following examinations may also be useful:
- Computer tomography (CT),
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRT),
- A mirroring (endoscopy) or a
- Fine needle puncture.
Therapy
You can already do a lot yourself against salivary gland inflammation. Help in principle: It is best to avoid solid food in the acute phase. Otherwise, the specific therapy depends on the cause of the inflammation.
Antibiotics are used in the case of a bacterial infection. Otherwise one treats rather symptomatically, above all with anti-inflammatory medicines and painkillers.
- Cooling envelopes containing alcohol,
- A thorough oral hygiene and a
- Increased fluid intake.
Furthermore, so-called “spoke locker” are recommended.
These are substances that stimulate the formation of saliva: The increased saliva flow “cleanses” the gland from the inside out. If a stone is the cause of the inflammation, it can sometimes even be transported out through the loosened saliva. If this does not succeed, there are other ways to remove the stone: In this treatment, shock waves are directed at the stone from the outside, breaking it into small pieces that can then come off by themselves. In the case of very large stones, as with abscesses, surgical intervention is usually unavoidable.
