The intriguing association between prematurity and neonatal isolated submandibular suppurative sialadenitis

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) submandibular abscess in a neonate

Neonatal suppurative submandibular sialadenitis and abscess formation is an exceedingly rare entity. This report describes a complex case of a male neonate with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) submandibular abscess, requiring emergency intubation due to acute airway compromise. The patient was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit, received appropriate antibiotic treatment and underwent urgent surgical drainage of the abscess. He made a full recovery and remains well 18 months later. No comorbidities or common risk factors for the disease were identified. Although extremely uncommon, neonatal submandibular abscesses can lead to significant morbidity. Neonates tend to present insidiously, and sudden clinical deterioration with airway compromise is possible. MRSA has been increasingly implicated in these infections, even in the absence of relevant risk factors. As such, continued clinical vigilance is essential for prompt diagnosis and prevention of life-threatening complications. Multidisciplinary input is paramount for appropriate management of these complex infections.

[Neonatal acute suppurative submandibular sialadenitis. Literature reports from 1950-2015]

BACKGROUND

Submandibular salivary gland infections are uncommon. For this reason, neonatal acute suppurative submandibular sialadenitis non-coincident with parotitis is considered as a rare entity. The aim of this work was to verify if there have been changes in the clinical and microbiological aspects of this infection from its first descriptions.

METHODS

A review of the international literature from different sources was performed from the earliest reports until April, 2016, in order to collect all the cases reported with this infection up to the present date.

RESULTS

We found 39 neonate patients reported in 30 articles for this review. Most articles came from the United States of America and Europe, whereas in Latin America there was only one case declared in Cuba. Some of the clinical aspects of the presentation and evolution of this infection in the reported patients are described.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal acute suppurative submandibular sialadenitis is an uncommon infection that presents similar clinical features through the years. As microbiological feature, this infection is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, although some methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have been implicated during the last 16 years. In general, it presents a satisfactory evolution with an early and appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Neonatal suppurative sialadenitis: an important clinical diagnosis

Neonatal suppurative sialadenitis is a condition causing infection of the salivary glands, most frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The vast majority of cases reported in the literature have been in infants with recognised risk factors. This report presents two cases of neonatal sialadenitis in siblings, neither of whom had any predisposing characteristics. The aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition are discussed. This report will also highlight the need for awareness of this condition and its inclusion in considered differentials for neck swelling in all infants.

Isolated suppurative submandibular sialadenitis in a preterm neonate

Neonatal isolated suppurative submandibular sialadenitis (NISSS) is rare, with only 21 cases described in the English literature. All cases, with the exception of one, were caused by Staphylococcus aureus. In this case report, we describe a preterm neonate with NISSS due to infection by S aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia presenting on day 11 of life with submandibular swelling and low-grade fever. Possible contributors for the development of the infection include prematurity, neutropenia, prolonged orogastric feed and bacterial virulence. Antibiotic treatment was effective. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of NISSS caused by a mixed flora.

Normal fetal salivary glands at 14-16 weeks of gestation as observed by transvaginal ultrasound imaging

OBJECTIVES

Absence or congenital anomalies of the parotid glands are associated with significant long-term morbidity. To date there are no published data on ultrasonographic detection of these defects in early pregnancy. We set out to demonstrate and measure the fetal parotid and submandibular salivary glands at 14-16 weeks using transvaginal ultrasound imaging.

METHODS

During a routine fetal anomaly detection scan in 30 consecutive patients, an attempt was made to examine the fetal parotid and submandibular glands. The fetal head was scanned in transverse sections just below the fetal ears, and the area of the parotid and submandibular glands was inspected. The examination time was not prolonged for the purpose of measuring the salivary glands. The fetal biparietal diameter and the femur length were also documented.

RESULTS

The median gestational age was 15.4 (range, 14.4-16.5) weeks. In all 30 patients examined, at least one pair of parotid and submandibular glands was clearly visualized and measured. In seven patients the parotid and submandibular glands were visualized on both sides. The median length of the parotid gland was 7.5 (range, 5.5-11.5) mm and that of the submandibular gland was 5.4 (range, 3.7-8.5) mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The fetal salivary glands can be demonstrated by transvaginal ultrasound imaging at 14-16 weeks of gestation. This is the first reported study presenting the normal values of salivary gland measurements, which may be important in detecting fetuses with congenital absence or other malformations of the glands.

Neonatal hyperthyroidism associated with isolated submandibular sialadenitis: is it just a coincidence?

Isolated submandibular sialadenitis is extremely rare in the neonatal period. All reported cases had predisposing factors such as prematurity, dehydration, anatomic deformities, calculi, and long-term oro-gastric tube feeding. Here, we present a case of neonatal isolated submandibular sialadenitis without any known risk factors and who was diagnosed later with hyperthyroidism secondary to maternal Graves' disease. Both sialadenitis and hyperthyroidism resolved with appropriate treatment. While both conditions are rare and important in neonatal emergency care, the possibility of neonatal hyperthyroidism should be explored in cases with isolated sialadenitis if there is no other risk factor. Possible mechanisms for this uncommon association are discussed.

Acute suppurative sialadenitis in a 37-day-old girl

Sialadenitis is a rare diagnosis in early infancy, but it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck swelling in this age group. We present a case of a 37-day-old infant with sialadenitis who presented to the pediatric emergency department with fever and neck swelling. A discussion of this diagnosis and the relevant literature follows.

Videosialoendoscopic assessment of bilateral atresia of the Wharton's duct orifice in an infant

Atresia of the submandibular ducts (particularly the duct orifice) is a rare occurrence that is mainly observed in newborns or infants; moreover, its differential diagnosis with other anomalies of the oral floor is sometimes difficult. Given the lack of data concerning the differences between atresia of the orifice of Wharton's duct and other anomalies of the submandibular duct system, we describe here the findings of videosialoendoscopic assessment of the salivary duct system in an infant who underwent traditional surgery for bilateral atresia of the orifice of Wharton's duct. During sialoendoscopy, a trifurcation of the main duct, a normal variant of the more common bifurcation of the secondary branches of the salivary duct system, was observed bilaterally. No other ductal anomalies were encountered. Complete resolution of the symptoms and complete patency of both ducts at 19-month follow-up evaluation were observed. In conclusion, although spontaneous resolution of the disease during feeding is possible, minimal incision of the orifice of the imperforated submandibular duct together with diagnostic videosialoendoscopy of the main salivary duct system may be considered as part of the modern approach to salivary obstructive disorders in pediatric age as is currently the case for sialolithiasis and recurrent juvenile parotitis.

Neonatal suppurative submandibular sialadenitis: case report and literature review

Acute submandibular sialadenitis is rare in the neonatal period and appears to be associated with prematurity. We describe a case of a premature neonate who developed suppurative submandibular sialadenitis from a hypervirulent strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition are discussed.

Neonatal suppurative submandibular sialadenitis

Neonatal sialadenitis of the submandibular gland caused by Staphylococcus aureus is described in 2 full term newborns without any risk factors. Fifteen other newborns with isolated submandibular sialadenitis have been reported in the English language literature. Sialadenitis was caused by S. aureus in 87% and occurred primarily in premature gavage-fed neonates (87%).

Suppurative submandibular sialadenitis in a preterm infant

Submandibular sialadenitis is a rarely reported entity in neonatal period. We describe a preterm infant who developed suppurative submandibular sialadenitis. He was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by ultrasound examination. He was treated successfully with antibiotics and drainage. The etiology, diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition are discussed.