208
8 Further Indications
8.2.6 Parotitis
Description
■ Acute or chronic recurrent inflammation of the parotid gland with painful swelling
and reddening
■ Causes:
– viral infectious disease (mumps)
– bacterial infection, e.g. due to a weakened immune system after severe surgery
– secondary to the blockage of the submandibular duct caused by salivary gland
stones (very rare)
Point Prescription
The various forms of parotitis can be treated with the same protocol. In cases of a blocked
duct, points relating to the immune system can be omitted. The point description is deter-
mined by RAC-palpation (
›
3.1.4).
French points
■ Local point:
Parotid Gland
(
›
6.3.4)
■ Immunostimulant points:
Thymus
(
›
6.6.1),
Interferon
(
›
6.7.3),
Infection Axis
(
›
6.12.4)
Chinese points
■ Local points:
Parotid Gland (30)
(
›
6.3.3),
Cheek (11)
(
›
6.3.4)
Abscesses require surgical intervention and possibly treatment with antibiotics. In the rare
case of a blocked duct due to a stone this has to be removed by a specialist consultant.
Treatment Intervals
■
Acute parotitis:
initially once daily or every other day until both pain and swelling
have significantly diminished; then 1–2 times weekly until symptoms have disappeared
■
Chronic recurrent parotitis:
1–2 times weekly until symptoms have disappeared
Treatment Course and Prognosis
■
Acute parotitis:
generally 2–3 weeks until symptoms disappear; acupuncture can alle-
viate the course of viral parotitis (mumps) and shorten it to just a few days
■
Chronic recurrent parotitis:
usually 2–3 months until symptoms disappear
■
Reactive parotitis due to a stone:
following the removal of the stone one acupuncture
treatment should be sufficient for symptoms to subside
box
