Etiology and Pathophysiology of Drooling in Children

Drooling in children can be pathological and can occur anteriorly or posteriorly, with or without aspiration. Dysphagia due to oral and oropharyngeal motor coordination is the typical cause of drooling in children. Salivation is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system via acetylcholine, which underpins medical therapies. Effects of drooling can be psychosocial, but when aspiration occurs, respiratory complications such as aspiration pneumonia can develop. Objective assessments for drooling include instruments to evaluate dysphagia, especially when aspiration is present. The treatment of a patient with drooling requires a multidisciplinary approach to guide the medical, surgical, or functional therapies needed to treat the condition.