Salivary Gland Inflammation (Sialadenitis): Medical History

The medical history represents an important component in the diagnosis of sialadenitis, in addition to the findings. Family history

  • What is the general health of your family?
    • Infectious diseases?

Social history

  • What is your profession?
  • Are you at risk of infection in your profession?

Current medical history / systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • What complaints do you have?
  • Have you noticed any general signs of illness such as headache, fever, loss of appetite?
  • Do you have any pain and if so, where?
    • Headache?
    • Earache?
    • Testicular pain?
    • Have you noticed any painful neck stiffness?
    • Do you experience pain when chewing?
    • Do you have difficulty swallowing?
    • Do you have any functional limitations?
      • Difficulty opening your mouth?
    • Have you noticed swelling in response to food intake?
  • Do you suffer from dry mouth?
  • Do you suffer from dry, burning eyes?
  • Do you have burning tongue?
  • Do you suffer from inflammation of the lips (cheilitis) or inflamed corners of the mouth (rhagades of the corners of the mouth, cheilitis angularis)?
  • Do you have an impaired sense of taste?

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Has your appetite changed?
  • Do you feel run down?
  • Are you drinking enough? How much daily?
  • Do you eat a balanced diet?
  • Do you suffer from nausea / vomiting?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If so, what and how much daily?

Self history incl. medication history.

  • Pre-existing conditions
    • Allergies
    • Blood diseases
    • Endocrinopathies (clinical pictures caused by disturbed function of endocrine glands or the defective action of hormones) with a general influence on the salivary glands
      • Diabetes mellitus
        • Osmotic diuresis
      • Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, synonyms: nonpurulent destructive cholangitis/biliary duct inflammation; formerly primary biliary cirrhosis).
    • Disease of the rheumatic type.
    • Viral infections
      • Parotitis epidemica (mumps)
      • Cytomegalovirus disease
      • Coxsackie
      • Influenza (flu)
      • Hepatitis C
      • HIV infection
    • Specific infections
      • Tuberculosis
    • Sarcoidosis (synonyms: Boeck’s disease; Schaumann-Besnier’s disease) – systemic connective tissue disease with granuloma formation (skin, lungs and lymph nodes).
    • Water balance disorders (dehydration/fluid deficiency).
      • Decreased drinking quantity
      • increased water loss
        • Polyuria (abnormally increased urine output) [diabetes insipidus].
        • Osmotic diuresis (urinary excretion) (diabetes mellitus).
        • Vomiting
        • Diarrhea (diarrhea)
        • Blood loss
        • Increased sweating
        • Burns
  • Surgeries (laparotomy/abdominal incision; oral and maxillofacial surgery).
  • Previous complaints
  • Accidents (injuries in the mouth, jaw and face)
  • Immunosuppression (suppression of the immune system).
  • Radiotherapy
  • Vaccination status
    • Vaccination mumps?
  • Medication history
    • Salivation-inhibiting (reducing salivary flow) medications can affect salivary gland health. About 400 such drugs with xerogenic (dry mouth-causing) properties are known.They belong to the following groups:
      • Antiadiposita
      • Antiarrhythmics
      • Anticholinergics
      • Antidepressants
      • Antiepileptic drugs
      • Antihistamines
      • Antihypertensives
      • Antiparkinsonian drugs
      • Antipsychotics (neuroleptics)
      • Anoretics
      • Anxiolytics
      • Ataractics
      • Diuretics
      • Hypnotics
      • Muscle relaxants
      • Sedatives
      • Spasmolytics