Pediatric parotitis: a 5-year review at a tertiary care pediatric institution.
BACKGROUND
Parotitis is a well recognized entity in the adult population, however there are very few studies concerning the clinical presentation and management of this condition in children.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize pediatric parotitis in a tertiary care setting, with the goal of clarifying management recommendations and outcomes.


METHODS
The charts of all pediatric patients with a diagnosis of parotitis treated at a tertiary care academic institution from 1999 to 2004 were reviewed. The management of inpatients and outpatients were characterized to define differences in presentation and care.


RESULTS
Twenty-one children (6 months-15 years) with a diagnosis of parotitis were identified. Thirteen (62%) children were treated as inpatients, of which seven (54%), had significant medical co-morbidities. The most common clinical presentations of the inpatient group included dehydration (46%), fever (38%) and leukocytosis (46%). Two inpatients (15%) required surgical drainage due to abscess formation. Eight children (38%) were treated as outpatients, none with associated co-morbidity, fever, leukocytosis, or complication due to infection. All outpatients were treated with oral antibiotics or conservative therapy with eventual resolution.


CONCLUSIONS
Parotitis in the pediatric population is uncommon. The presence of a significant co-morbidity, fever, or leukocytosis may require inpatient therapy and imaging if patients fail to improve with medical therapy. Other than abscess drainage, surgery for parotitis in children is not routinely recommended.
Stong
Benjamin C
BC
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Sipp
James A
JA
Sobol
Steven E
SE
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010309:Parotitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents