Parotitis
Pronunciation: par-oh-TY-tis
Inflammation of the parotid salivary gland, which may be infectious (viral or bacterial), autoimmune, or obstructive in aetiology.
Full Definition
Parotitis encompasses a spectrum of inflammatory conditions affecting the parotid gland. Epidemic parotitis—commonly known as mumps—is caused by the Mumps orthorubulavirus and presents with bilateral painful parotid swelling. Bacterial (suppurative) parotitis typically occurs unilaterally in dehydrated or immunocompromised patients. Autoimmune parotitis is associated with Sjögren's syndrome and may present with recurrent bilateral swelling. Editors must ensure the aetiology is clearly specified when the term appears, as 'parotitis' alone does not imply a specific cause. It should not be confused with parotid neoplasms or non-inflammatory parotid swelling (parotid hypertrophy).
Usage
Usage note: Always qualify with aetiology (e.g., 'viral parotitis', 'bacterial parotitis') in clinical documents to avoid ambiguity. Do not use 'parotitis' as a synonym for 'mumps' alone in formal texts.
In Context
- "The differential diagnosis for unilateral parotid swelling included bacterial parotitis, calculus obstruction, and neoplasia." — Differential diagnosis section
- "The manuscript consistently used 'parotitis' to mean mumps, but the editor flagged that the aetiology should be stated explicitly." — Peer review comment