SALIVARY FACTORS IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT PAROTITIS

The parotid flow rate, buffering capacity and inorganic components in saliva from 17 children with juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) in per iods free of symptoms and in healthy controls of the same number, sex and age were analysed after gustatory stimulation with 1%, 2% and 6% c itric acid. There was a great individual variation in all analysed var iables in the JRPs, as well as in the controls. The now rate, the buff ering capacity of saliva and the ion concentration of phosphate were s ignificantly lower for the JRP-children than for the controls, while t he concentration of chloride, sodium and copper were raised (p < 0.01- 0.001). No statistical differences were found for the pH, the calcium, the potassium, the magnesium and the zinc concentrations. The results suggest a longterm effect on the parotid saliva in the JRP-cases due to the disease.