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Dacryoadenitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Dacryoadenitis is rare, often on the one hand. Dacryoadenitis occurs as a complication of common infections - influenza, acute respiratory disease, tonsillitis, mumps, scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc. Bacterial dacryoadenitis causes penetrating trauma, erysipelas, gonorrheal conjunctivitis, endogenous uveitis.
Acute dacryoadenitis begins with the appearance of pain and swelling in the upper orbital corner of the orbit, with abundant lacrimation. The eye slit narrows and assumes a characteristic S-shape. When pulling back the eyelid, you can see the enlarged palpebral part of the lacrimal gland. In some cases, the compaction and swelling of the gland are so significant that the eyeball can shift downward and inward, its mobility is limited. There is pain and hyperemia of the outer part of the upper eyelid, an increase in body temperature, a headache, a general malaise. Can hyperemia and swelling of the conjunctiva of the eyeball. Often observed increase and soreness of parotid lymph nodes. Dacryoadenitis is usually spontaneously resolved, but sometimes progresses to suppuration and atrophy of the lacrimal gland.
Chronic dacryoadenitis often occurs in the form of Mikulich syndrome: a symmetrical and painless increase in lacrimal and salivary glands, parotid glands with concomitant dry keratoconjunctivitis and xerostomia (dry mouth).
Treatment of dacryoadenitis: antibiotics, sulfonamides, desensitizing agents, analgesics, antipyretic drugs; dry heat, UHF therapy. When abscessed, the abscess is opened and the focus drained.
Tuberculous dacryoadenitis. The disease differs from dacryoadenitis of another etiology by the absence of pronounced signs of inflammation and pain syndrome. The lacrimal gland of a dense consistence is enlarged in volume, which often leads to an erroneous diagnosis of the neoplasm. To clarify the diagnosis, puncture and biopsy are performed. Radiographic examination in some cases in the lacrimal gland found calcifications. In the lacrimal gland, foci of ossification can be identified with a coarse connective tissue capsule and petrificata in their circumference. The foci of ossification develops in the field of caseous decay and is the focus of early metastasis from the primary complex.
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