What are the etiological differences between suppurative parotitis and viral parotitis (mumps)?

Hello! Many people indeed get these two types of parotitis confused. Although both are called 'parotitis,' their causes are entirely different, much like how both a cold and heatstroke can make you feel unwell, but one is caused by a virus, and the other by excessive heat.

Let me help you clarify, hoping it makes things clearer for you.

Core Difference: One is an 'External Invasion,' the other an 'Internal Rebellion'

You can imagine our parotid gland as a 'factory' that produces saliva. This factory has ducts leading into our mouth.

Viral Parotitis (also known as 'Epidemic Parotitis' or 'Mumps')

This is an 'external invasion'.

• Who is the enemy?: The mumps virus. This is a specific virus, just as the influenza virus causes the flu.
• How does it invade?: This virus is highly contagious, primarily spreading through the air and respiratory droplets (e.g., talking, sneezing). After the virus enters your body through your nose or mouth, it first 'incubates' elsewhere. Then, it 'air-drops' into your parotid gland 'factory' via the bloodstream, sets up camp, and multiplies rapidly, causing the gland to become inflamed and swollen.
• Characteristics:
  • Contagious: If one person gets it, those around them can easily be infected, which is why it's called 'epidemic'.
  • Systemic: Because the virus travels throughout the body via the bloodstream, in addition to parotid gland swelling and pain, you might also experience fever, headache, and general weakness, feeling like you're suffering from a 'major illness'.
  • Commonly affected groups: Most common in children and adolescents.

Suppurative Parotitis

This is more like an 'internal rebellion'.

• Who is the enemy?: Bacteria. These are typically bacteria already present in our oral cavity, such as Staphylococcus aureus. They usually coexist peacefully with us.
• How does it rebel?: When your body is weakened (e.g., after major surgery, old age, or dehydration leading to dry mouth), the 'saliva factory's' production decreases, and the flow rate slows down. At this point, bacteria normally present in the oral cavity seize the opportunity and ascend against the flow through the 'ducts' that release saliva, returning inside the 'factory' to cause trouble. The bacteria multiply within the gland, leading to infection and eventually forming pus, hence the term 'suppurative'.
• Characteristics:
  • Non-contagious: This is because the bacteria originate from within your own mouth, not from external sources, so it typically doesn't spread to others.
  • Localized: The problem primarily affects the parotid gland locally, usually with more severe swelling on one side, and the pain is very intense. When pressed, pus might even be squeezed out from the duct opening. Systemic symptoms are relatively mild.
  • Commonly affected groups: More common in frail elderly individuals, bedridden patients, or those who have recently undergone major surgery.

Simple Summary

So, although both are called parotitis, one is a contagious disease caused by a virus, while the other is a localized infection caused by bacteria. Precisely because the causes are different, the treatment methods are also completely different: viral parotitis primarily relies on the body's own immunity to fight it (antiviral treatment), whereas bacterial parotitis requires antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria.