Parotid Gland Swelling

[Austin]

For the past 6 years my saliva glands have been swelling nearly every day.  I've had blood tests, scans, a saliogram, etc. with negative results.  It started after a dentist appt. with a shoddy dr. in a dirty office--the work was bad and i had the cavity re-filled somewhere else.  About a week or so later the swelling began.  It's primarily on my right side, but sometimes on the left.  Never at the same time, which is strange...
When it swells I can feel the holes in my cheeks have growth on them.  If I massage the gland gently, a white and sometimes yellowish thick mucus-like saliva comes out and the saliva can then flow.  I get bumps under my ear which itch terribly...and if I scratch them it can cause the glands to swell.  they are terribly sensitive now after all these years.  Just touching my face can set them off.  My skin complexion is also not great when the swelling occurs.  One dr. thought my tonsils may be causing infections so he took them out 2 years ago.  I had chronic tonisl infections.  The condition gets much worse if I drink alcohol or get the least bit dehydrated---but even when I drink tons of water..the swelling occurs.  I've learned how to manage it by drinking even more water and by limiting alcohol use...but I'm so tired of this..and often times my face will be very painful.  you can actually see the gland and a line going to my cheek where it's swollen sometimes.  I also get these bumps inside my mouth on the very top of my cheek..if i scrape them, the whitish or yellowish stringy material which I find blocking my cheeks is present.  I had my doctor put me on cipro yesterday after researching the internet.  Could i have chronic infections?  The mucousy and white stringy stuff coming from my glands seems to feel like an infection..but it's been 6 years...wouldn't it have spread?  Please give me your best guess.  One more thing:  my doctor says my White Blood Cell count has been from 10 - 15,000 each time he does tests...it's the only test that doesn't come back normal

[adi202]

A related discussion, Swelling near to the left ear on the cheek was started.

[Afo]

I have a swelling inside my right cheek. it feels like a blister that's filled with liquid, rather than a sore. I don't think i have a  parotid gland problem, but i read the last post and I too have  white stringy things that just seem to grow on the inside of my cheek. they're not always there, they come and go, but they are disturbing. i went to my doctor about two years ago about them, and she didn't know what they were and referred me to a dermotologist. but they went away for a while and i never made the appointment. I'm curious what they are, and whether i should see an ear, nose, and throat doctor about this, and the swelling inside my cheek.

[Ratan]

Dear Sir,

25 feb'2002

I am a hy.thyroid patient from last may 2001. After my thyroid treatment I am experiencing a swelling  under my left ear and also a slight swell under the right ear too. It started from the last may 2001 only. At first I thought its like a tounsil swell therefore I ignored quite a long time. But when I found still the swell doesn't stops under my left ear specially, I visited one of our ENT DOCTORS. The doctor declared it as PAROTIDITIS and prescribed some medicines. I am not cleared with the disease the doctor declared.But these medicines doesn't effect the swelling instead I felt quite uncomfortable with the medicines. Now I am not taking any medicines. The swelling under the ears are not painful at all but it looks very akward. The shape of my face is totally changing. I am very afraid of this as I am single and planning  to marry very soon. Please suggest me the best possible advice. Thank you

Ratan,
India.

[Austin]

Is Cipro the right antibiotic for this?  My doctor gave me 7 days worth ...I was on vacation and the problem seemed to get a bit better by the 7th day...but then I ran out, and it's back.  I can't gauge if it was the cipro because sometimes it does get a bit better, but is that the right antibiotic for a low grade infection of this sort?

[Tomasello_MD]

Cipro sounds like it may be helping, however if you have a true infection of the Parotid gland, this is caused most commonly by a bacteria known as Staph Aureus. This requires treatment with Nafcillin which is given IV. You also need to know that salivary gland duct stones can predispose you to recurrent salivary gland infections. If the ENT has not ruled out salivary gland duct stones, this needs to be done as well.

[Forum-M.D.-DT]

Thank you for visiting the Family Practice Forum

This really does sound like a chronic infection. This is supported by the fact that you have an elevated white blood cell count and have a discharge coming from the glands themselves. It is quite possible that you may have some type of allergy as well which is causing increased fluid to accumulate in the glands when you are exposed to a particular allergen.
I am really quite surprised that no doctor has considered the possibility of a chronic low grade infection of these glands and prescribed an antibiotic sooner.
Nevertheless, I would consider treating this with oral antibiotics for at least 3 weeks. If this does not resolve by this time (FULLY resolve ... and not recur), I would consider having a second opinion by and Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

[Austin]

Oh...and I forgot to mention...it may not be related but:
My sternum has been causing me great pain as of late..probably the last 4-5 months.  it pops and gets very tight.  I exercise a lot..but i didn't know if perhaps this could be another symptom of something from which causes my parotid swelling.
thanks