Dacryoadenitis

 ICD9        = 375.0|

}} Dacryoadenitis is inflammationof the lacrimal glands(the tear-producing glands).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acutedacryoadenitis is most commonly due to viralor bacterialinfection. Common causes include mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, staphylococcus, and gonococcus.

Chronic dacryoadenitis is usually due to noninfectious inflammatory disorders. Examples include sarcoidosis, thyroid eye disease, and orbital pseudotumor.

Symptoms

• Swelling of the outer portion of the upper lid, with possible redness and tenderness
• Painin the area of swelling
• Excess tearing or discharge
• Swelling of lymph nodesin front of the ear

Signs and tests

Dacryoadenitis can be diagnosed by examination of the eyesand lids. Special tests such as a CT scanmay be required to search for the cause. Sometimes biopsywill be needed to be sure that a tumorof the lacrimal gland is not present.

Treatment

If the cause of dacryoadenitis is a viral condition such as mumps, simple rest and warm compresses may be all that is needed. For other causes, the treatment is specific to the causative disease.

Prognosis

Most patients will fully recover from dacryoadenitis. For conditions with more serious causes, such as sarcoidosis, the prognosisis that of the underlying condition.

Complications

Swelling may be severe enough to put pressure on the eye and distort vision. Some patients first thought to have dacryoadenitis may turn out to have a malignancyof the lacrimal gland.

Prevention

Mumps can be prevented by immunization. Gonococcus, the bacteria causing gonorrhea, can be avoided by the use of condoms. Most other causes cannot be prevented.

External link

• Source (NIH/Medline)
• eMedicine
• Photo (at Columbia)
• DDB3430

it:Diacrocistite

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacryoadenitis Wikipedia article Dacryoadenitis.