Drooling

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Drooling
Other namesSalivation, driveling, dribbling, slobbering, sialorrhea

Drooling, or slobbering, is the flow of saliva outside the mouth. Drooling can be caused by excess production of saliva, inability to retain saliva within the mouth (incontinence of saliva), or problems with swallowing (dysphagia or odynophagia).

Contents

There are some frequent and harmless cases of drooling – for instance, a numbed mouth from either benzocaine, or when going to the dentist's office.

Isolated drooling in healthy infants and toddlers is normal and may be associated with teething. [1] It is unlikely to be a sign of disease or complications. Drooling in infants and young children may be exacerbated by upper respiratory infections and nasal allergies.

Some people with drooling problems are at increased risk of inhaling saliva, food, or fluids into the lungs, especially if drooling is secondary to a neurological problem. However, if the body's normal reflex mechanisms (such as gagging and coughing) are not impaired, this is not life-threatening.

Causes

Drooling or sialorrhea can occur during sleep. It is often the result of open-mouth posture from CNS depressants intake or sleeping on one's side. Sometimes while sleeping, saliva does not build up at the back of the throat and does not trigger the normal swallow reflex, leading to the condition. Freud conjectured that drooling occurs during deep sleep, and within the first few hours of falling asleep, since those who are affected by the symptom experience the most severe harm while napping, rather than during overnight sleep. [2]

A sudden onset of drooling may indicate poisoning – especially by pesticides or mercury – or reaction to snake or insect venom. Excess capsaicin can cause drooling as well, an example being the ingestion of particularly high Scoville Unit chili peppers. Some neurological problems cause drooling. Medication can cause drooling, either due to primary action or side-effects; for example the pain-relief medication Orajel can numb the mucosa.[ citation needed ]

Causes include:

Drooling associated with fever or trouble swallowing may be a sign of an infectious disease including:

Treatment

A comprehensive treatment plan depends on the cause and incorporates several stages of care: Correction of reversible causes, behavior modification, medical treatment, and surgical procedures.[ citation needed ]

Atropine sulfate tablets are used in some circumstances to reduce salivation. The same for anticholinergic drugs which can be also a benefit because they decrease the activity of the acetylcholine muscarinic receptors and can result in decreased salivation. They may be prescribed by doctors in conjunction with behavior modification strategies. Other drugs used are glycopyrrolate and botulinum toxin A – botox injection in salivary glands to diminish saliva production. [5] [6] [7]

In general, surgical procedures are considered after clear diagnosis of the cause and evaluation of non-invasive treatment options. Severe cases can be sometimes be treated by surgical intervention – salivary duct relocalization, or in extreme cases resection of salivary glands.[ citation needed ]

The scope of the meaning of the term drool in popular use has expanded to include any occasion wherein someone highly desires something. [8] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saliva</span> Bodily fluid secreted by salivary glands

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salivary gland</span> Exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parotid gland</span> Major salivary gland in many animals

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salivary gland disease</span> Medical condition

Salivary gland diseases (SGDs) are multiple and varied in cause. There are three paired major salivary glands in humans: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands. There are also about 800–1,000 minor salivary glands in the mucosa of the mouth. The parotid glands are in front of the ears, one on side, and secrete mostly serous saliva, via the parotid ducts, into the mouth, usually opening roughly opposite the second upper molars. The submandibular gland is medial to the angle of the mandible, and it drains its mixture of serous and mucous saliva via the submandibular duct into the mouth, usually opening in a punctum in the floor of mouth. The sublingual gland is below the tongue, on the floor of the mouth; it drains its mostly mucous saliva into the mouth via about 8–20 ducts, which open along the plica sublingualis, a fold of tissue under the tongue.

References

  1. ↑ Common Baby Teething Symptoms & Signs Kute Keiki. Retrieved on 2019-12-05
  2. ↑ Almeida, Cristiana; Almeida, Isabel; Vasconcelos, Carlos (2015). "Quality of life in systemic sclerosis". Autoimmunity Reviews. 14 (12): 1087–1096. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2015.07.012. PMID   26212726.
  3. ↑ Weiss-Lambrou, R.; Tetreault, S.; Dudley, J. (1989). "The relationship between oral sensation and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy". American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 43 (3): 155–161. doi: 10.5014/ajot.43.3.155 . PMID   2735376 . Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  4. ↑ Kalf, J.G. (2009). "Prevalence and definition of drooling in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review". Journal of Neurology. 256 (9): 1391–1396. doi:10.1007/s00415-009-5098-2. PMC   2733191 . PMID   19288042.
  5. ↑ Ellies Maik (2004). "Reduction of salivary flow with botulinum toxin: Extended report on 33 patients with drooling, salivary fistulas, and sialadenitis". The Laryngoscope. 114 (10): 1856–1860. doi:10.1097/00005537-200410000-00033. PMID   15454785. S2CID   8507758.
  6. ↑ Lipp, A.; Trottenberg, T.; Schink, T.; Kupsch, A.; Arnold, G. (2003). "A randomized trial of botulinum toxin A for treatment of drooling". Neurology. 61 (9): 1279–1281. doi:10.1212/WNL.61.9.1279. PMID   14610139. S2CID   42377134 . Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  7. ↑ Mier, Richard J.; Bachrach, Steven J.; Lakin, Ryan C.; Barker, Tara; Childs, Judith; Moran, Maria (2000). "Treatment of Sialorrhea With GlycopyrrolateA Double-blind, Dose-Ranging Study". Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 154 (12): 1214–8. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.154.12.1214 . PMID   11115305 . Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  8. ↑ "Definition of DROOL". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  9. ↑ "DROOL | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
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