Year: 2026 | Month: October-December | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 15-21
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260402
Pharyngolaryngeal Edema as a Rare Complication of Mumps Infection: A Case Report
I Nyoman Andika Kumara1, Monica Intan2
1,2Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery,
BIMC Kuta Surgical Specialty Hospital, Bali, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: I Nyoman Andika Kumara
ABSTRACT
Background: Mumps is an acute viral infection characterized by painful swelling of the parotid glands. Although most infections are mild and self-limiting, systemic complications such as orchitis, meningitis, and pancreatitis are widely recognized, whereas upper airway involvement in the form of pharyngolaryngeal edema with supraglottic swelling is an exceedingly rare yet potentially life-threatening complication. The authors report this case to highlight the importance of vigilance for airway involvement in adult mumps and the role of flexible laryngoscopy in early detection.
Case Presentation: A 40-year-old immunocompetent man presented to the emergency department with progressive facial and neck swelling of one day’s duration, accompanied by voice change and a sensation of breathing difficulty. Mumps was diagnosed clinically on the basis of bilateral parotid swelling, sialadenitis on contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography (CT), and a laboratory profile consistent with a viral process. Flexible laryngoscopy confirmed supraglottic edema with an airway patency of approximately 80%. The patient was initially managed with intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy and supplemental oxygen, but deteriorated and was transferred to the intensive care unit, where therapy was escalated to intravenous dexamethasone and nebulized epinephrine. He improved within 48 hours and was discharged without requiring intubation or tracheostomy.
Conclusion: Pharyngolaryngeal edema is a rare but potentially fatal complication of mumps owing to airway obstruction. Clinicians should perform early flexible laryngoscopy in any patient with mumps who reports voice change or breathing difficulty, regardless of vaccination status, since delayed recognition may result in respiratory failure. Multidisciplinary management with intravenous corticosteroids as the mainstay of therapy, supported by readiness for a surgical airway as a contingency, proved effective in averting invasive intervention in this case.
Keywords: mumps; pharyngolaryngeal edema; supraglottic edema; upper airway obstruction; laryngoscopy