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. Objectives: 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 teukocytosis (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. AR 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 fait to improve with medical therapy. Other than abscess drainage, surgery for parotitis in children is not routinely recommended. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. ALL rights reserved.