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Management of drooling in children

C B R Fairhurst1, H Cockerill

  • 1Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and Saint Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. charlie.fairhurst@gstt.nhs.uk.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Education and Practice Edition
|August 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Drooling beyond age 4, known as chronic sialorrhea, indicates neurodevelopmental issues. Management involves multidisciplinary assessment and interventions, including medical treatments to control saliva production.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Drooling beyond age 4 is considered neurodevelopmentally abnormal.
  • Chronic sialorrhea in children often stems from impaired oral sensation or motor control.
  • Excessive salivary production, though less common, can also cause persistent drooling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of chronic sialorrhea in children.
  • To detail the assessment and management strategies for pediatric drooling.
  • To discuss medical and surgical interventions for managing excessive salivation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on pediatric sialorrhea.
  • Discussion of diagnostic approaches including oral sensation and motor control assessment.
  • Outline of multidisciplinary team roles in patient management.

Main Results:

  • Sialorrhea management requires a tailored approach based on individual patient needs.
  • Conservative interventions, oral motor training, and dental appliances are initial management options.
  • Medical treatment focuses on anticholinergic agents to reduce salivary production, while surgical options exist for severe cases.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of chronic sialorrhea necessitates a multidisciplinary team approach.
  • Interventions range from conservative measures to pharmacological and surgical treatments.
  • Addressing underlying neurodevelopmental factors is crucial for successful long-term outcomes.

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