July 16, 2012 Dacryoadenitis (lat. dacryoadenitis) is the inflammation of lachrymal glands.
Causes:
Acute dacryoadenitis (dakrioadenitis acuta) is mostly caused by viral or bacterial infections. Common causes include mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, and staphylococci and gonococci bacteria.
Chronic dacryoadenitis (dakrioadenitis cronica) is mostly a result of non-infective inflammatory disorders, such as sarcoidosis, dysthyroid orbitopathy and pseudo-tumor of the orbit.
Symptoms:
Swelling on the outside of the upper eyelid, with possible redness and sensitivity, pain in the swelling area, excessive lachrymation (epiphora) or discharge, swelling of lymph nodes in front of the ear.
Treatment:
If the cause of dacryoadenitis is of viral origin, such as mumps, it should be enough to rest and put warm and dry compresses on the inflammated gland. For other causes the therapy is specific according to the pathogen.
Mumps can be prevented by vaccination. Gonococcal bacteria can be prevented by using condoms. Other causes cannot be prevented, for example acute dacryoadenitis (dacryoadenitis acuta) – acute inflammation of lachrymal glands. It occurs suddenly with signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, pain, heat), which are localized in the upper lateral corner of the entrance to the orbit. Swelling causes the lowering of the eyelid in its temporal half. There is a result of increased periauricular lymph glands, if the swelling is significant and mobility of the eyeball is decreased.