Inflammation of the lacrimal gland (tear producing gland).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acute dacryoadenitis is most commonly due to infection with a virus or bacteria. Common causes include mumps , Epstein-Barr virus , staphylococcus, and gonococcus. Chronic dacryoadenitis is usually due to non-infectious inflammatory disorders. Examples include sarcoidosis , thyroid eye disease, and orbital pseudotumor .

Signs and tests

Dacryoadenitis can be diagnosed by examination of the eyes and lids. Special tests may be required to search for the cause. Sometimes biopsy will be needed to be sure that a tumor of the lacrimal gland is not present.

Treatment

Where the underlying diagnosis is known and self-limited, 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.

Expectations (prognosis)

Where the underlying diagnosis is known and self-limited, such as mumps, most patients will fully recover. For more serious causative conditions, such as sarcoidosis, the prognosis is 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 malignancy of the lacrimal gland.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if swelling or pain increase despite treatment.

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.