Neonatal parotid gland enlargement: Is it suppurative parotitis? A case report

Neonatal Parotitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Neonatal parotitis is a rare disease. Between 1970 and 2011 only 44 cases have been reported in the English literature.

METHODS

In this case report, we describe a case of neonatal parotitis caused by Group B streptococcus (GBS). Additionally, we performed a review of the recent literature. We found 18 new cases published between 2011 and 2020. These cases were analyzed together with the 44 cases published before 2011.

RESULTS

All patients presented with swelling over the parotid area, with varying degrees of local inflammation and general symptoms. Purulent discharge from the Stensen's duct was present in 85% of the patients. The swelling was usually unilateral (84%). In total 70% of the patients were male. Prematurity was reported in 29% of the cases. The most common isolated pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (68%). Only 5 cases were found describing GBS as the causative pathogen in neonatal parotitis. In most of the cases treatment with intravenous antibiotics was successful, 27% of the patients needed surgical drainage. The reported outcomes were good.

CONCLUSIONS

When comparing GBS cases and non-GBS cases there seems to be a difference in presenting symptoms and pathophysiology, with GBS patients presenting without purulent discharge form the Stensen's duct and with more severe generalized symptoms. Additionally, all GBS patients had a positive blood culture, compared to 27% of the non-GBS patients, which indicates that in GBS cases the major route of parotid infection is hematogenous, compared to a retrograde flow from the oral cavity to the parotid gland in non-GBS cases.

Polymicrobial Acute Suppurative Parotitis in a 33-Day-Old Infant: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) of neonates is a rare condition characterized by irritability, erythema, and tenderness of the affected gland.

METHODS/RESULTS

Only few cases have been reported in Engilsh literature, mostly in male neonates, in a unilateral fashion. In our case, a polymicrobial etiology (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter ursingii, and Acinetobacter junii) was found. Based on the review of the microbiological findings of cases of ASP in English literature for the years 1970 to 2020, S. aureus is the most commonly isolated microorganism (47% of the total 65 patients). Our patient was born with a C-section procedure and was not breast-fed, making dysbiosis along with the usage of the feeding bottle, possible risk factors for the development of ASP.

CONCLUSIONS

ASP may be due to polymicrobial etiology. Initial presentation in neonates may not include typical signs and symptoms, like fever. Aseptic technique of oral procedures is of utmost importance also in immune-competent neonates.

Neonatal suppurative parotitis: Case reports and literature review

BACKGROUND

Neonatal suppurative parotitis is a rare disease, characterized mainly by unilateral parotid swelling with erythema and tenderness, and often purulent discharge from the Stensen's duct into the oral cavity. Only 44 cases were reported in the English literature between 1970 and 2013.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search was conducted using the terms acute, neonatal, newborn, suppurative, bacterial, purulent, parotitis, parotid swelling, and parotid abscess, limited to the English-language literature starting from 2011. We reviewed all reported cases, together with two more managed cases in our hospital. We also describe the magnetic resonance imaging findings of the early stage of this disease.

RESULTS

We identified 26 new cases since 2011. The total number of patients reviewed was 72, including our patients. The infection was unilateral in 83% of patients, and 67% of the affected patients were males. The serum amylase levels were generally not elevated despite marked parotid swelling. Of the causative agents of this disease, 65% were Staphylococcus aureus, of which 19% were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. As the rate of cesarean section was high in patients with this disease, it was considered a risk factor. The diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images showed multiple punctate hyperintensity regions with reduced apparent diffusion coefficient, suggesting microabscess formation in the affected gland.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute suppurative parotitis should be considered in cases of swelling and tenderness in the parotid gland during the neonatal period. Multiple punctate hyperintensities in the parotid gland on the diffusion-weighted images may indicate a retrograde bacterial infection from the Stensen's duct.

Parotitis due to Burkholderia cepacia infection after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Burkholderia cepacia predominantly causes opportunistic infections in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients such as patients with cystic fibrosis, cancer, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Nonetheless, Burkholderia cepacia is infrequently reported to cause infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. Herein, we report a rare case of suppurative parotitis in a 31-year-old patient with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) who underwent auto-HSCT. The secretion from the Stensen duct was collected, and Burkholderia cepacia was detected using the VITEK-2 identification system. Additionally, sensitive antibiotic therapy against this bacterium was also effective. This is the first case of parotitis triggered by Burkholderia cepacia after auto-HSCT, and it is also the first reported domestic case. This case emphasizes the importance of considering bacterial infections in general and Burkholderia cepacia specifically in HSCT patients with post-transplant parotitis.

Acute Neonatal Suppurative Parotitis Due to Co-Infection by Non-Typable Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci and Escherichia coli: A Case Report

Neonatal suppurative parotitis (NSP) is a very rare disease of the salivary glands, usually involving the parotids. It is mostly due to Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection among patients with predisposing factors, and management mainly relies on hydration and intravenous antibiotics with an excellent prognosis. Herein, we present a case of an 11-day-old female baby who presented with left periauricular edema and tenderness associated with fever that was later diagnosed as NSP due to both non-typable beta-hemolytic streptococci and Escherichia coli. Antibiotics therapy (vancomycin and gentamicin) was started, and the patient recovered completely after nine days. The CAse REport (CARE) guidelines were followed for reporting our case. Our case reiterates the fact that NSP should be in the differential diagnosis of any neonate presenting with fever and parotid area swelling. Prompt diagnosis is necessary for early management with antibiotics and to avoid complications.

Bilateral acute neonatal suppurative parotitis: A rare finding in neonatal age

Acute suppurative parotitis is a rare entity in neonates. Bilateral involvement is extremely rare. Low birth weight, prematurity, gavage feeding, dehydration, sepsis are all known risk factors. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism, other organisms responsible for parotitis are streptococcus, E. coli, pseudomonas and klebsiella. We report a neonate suffering from bilateral acute suppurative parotitis with an unusual causative association. CPAP and its association for acute suppurative parotitis has been proposed.