Pain as a symptom of parotid gland inflammation
Since the parotid gland is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue, it presses on nerves and nerve tracts in case of swelling. This can lead to immense pain and loss of function. Parotid gland inflammation usually causes severe pressure pain in front of and under the ear.
When the mouth is opened, the pain often increases and restricts the opening of the mouth. Due to the proximity to the jaw and teeth, the pain can spread there. In addition, neck and headaches can develop. When eating, the pain usually increases as there is increased saliva production, which increases the pressure. As a result, the intake of food is often severely impaired.
Fever/chills as a symptom of parotid gland inflammation
In the course of inflammatory processes of the parotid gland, fever frequently occurs in addition to a general feeling of illness. In the case of bacterial inflammation, the fever is often high. With viral infections, on the other hand, it is often slightly pronounced.
In parotid gland inflammation, messenger substances of the immune system, so-called cytokines, are released and thus increase the setpoint value of the body temperature. The pathogens and foreign substances, so-called pyrogens, increase the release of the messenger substances. These messenger substances are not only involved in the immune reaction, but also influence the regulation of body temperature by contributing to the release of the hormone prostaglandin E2.
This hormone then reaches the “vegative control center in the brain“, the so-called hypothalamus. Here, accompanied by other mechanisms, the target body temperature is raised. When this has been done, the previous “normal” body temperature is felt to be “too cold”.
As a result, the body’s heat output is reduced and this leads, for example, to icy cold fingers. In addition, the body tries to produce more heat and reacts in the form of chills, with the aim of reaching the newly set body temperature target value.The measurement of the body temperature indicates – despite visible freezing – an increased value. As soon as the inflammatory reaction of the parotid gland subsides and the set value returns to normal, the increased body temperature then triggers the opposite reactions. Sweating breaks out with the aim of returning to the normal initial value. Whether and to what extent an affected person with parotid gland inflammation has a fever is very individual.
