Acute viral and bacterial infections of the salivary glands.

Acute infection can involve any salivary gland, but it predominately affects the major salivary glands, especially the parotid gland. The anatomic and physiologic factors accounting for the parotid gland's predilection for infection are reviewed. Numerous conditions that are predisposed to acute bacterial sialadenitis and differ from risk factors associated with viral infection are also reviewed. The pathogenesis, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, complications, and prognosis of bacterial infections are discussed and contrasted with those of viral infections.