What is acute sialadenitis?

Acute sialadenitis refers to a sudden inflammation of the salivary glands, often caused by bacterial infection. The most common causative organism is staphylococcus aureus.

While some forms of sialadenitis can indeed be associated with viral infections, the specific acute sialadenitis typically pertains to bacterial causes, particularly in adults and can often be due to factors such as duct obstruction or dehydration, potentially leading to the proliferation of bacteria.

The correct characterization of acute sialadenitis is that it is primarily an acute bacterial infection of the salivary glands. This aligns with the underlying pathophysiology of the condition, where bacteria can infect glands with reduced salivary flow, leading to pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area. Typically, any chronic inflammation or other conditions contributing to swelling in the salivary glands would fall outside the definition of acute sialadenitis. Thus, the understanding is that acute sialadenitis most accurately describes an acute bacterial infection related to the glandular tissue.