submandibular sialitis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Infection of a submandibular gland is invariably secondary to the presence of a stone in its duct or the damage done by a stone which has passed through the duct. The infecting organism is usually Staphylococcus.
The symptoms are identical to those caused by a stone except that when the gland is infected the pain is severe, throbbing, continuous and exacerbated by eating.
The gland is rubbery, hot and tender.
If the duct system becomes dilated - sialectasis - the pus may pool in the gland and the whole structure turn into a multilocular abscess, which may then point to the skin.