Recurrent parotitis in children. A report of 102 cases.

This article presents 102 cases of recurrent parotitis in children with studies of clinical findings, sialographic manifestations, dynamic functions of the parotid gland examined with radionuclide, laboratory findings and follow-up studies of 28 cases with sialography. The following conclusions are reached: 1. Retrograde infection induced by the mumps virus and upper respiratory infection seem to play a major role in the etiology of recurrent parotitis. Familial abnormalities are potential factors. Incomplete immune functions of the children are factors related to the pathogenesis, and following growth and development of the immune system, this disease will undergo remission; 2. Sequential scintigraphy shows normal uptake and retarded excretion function of the parotid; 3. Long-term follow-up studies demonstrate that the patients are free from symptoms for many years, but the punctate dilatation in sialography may diminish, disappear, or be unchanged; and 4. If the disease is not cured in childhood, it may continue into adulthood and healing will take place eventually. Relationship with Sjogren's syndrome has not been revealed.