Surgical Treatment of Paediatric Drooling

Pollaers, Katherine; Vijaysekaran, Shyan

Surgical Treatment of Paediatric Drooling

Open Education Resource

2025-05-07

Abstract

Drooling is normal in children until 4 years of age. However, simple drooling can have negative social consequences, and chronic posterior drooling can have serious clinical sequelae. Anterior drooling is characterised by unintentional saliva loss from the mouth, which has social and cosmetic consequencesPosterior drooling is when saliva spills over the tongue into the hypopharynx, which leads to chronic pulmonary aspiration (CPA) of saliva. Chronic pulmonary aspiration results in recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, antibiotics use, medical consultations, interventions, and hospitalisations. The severity and complications of aspiration depend on the quantity and quality of the aspirated material, the patients defence mechanisms and pulmonary status.