Babies and drooling: Drooling and Your Baby – HealthyChildren.org

Опубликовано: July 6, 2023 в 3:24 pm

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

Causes, Tips and Foods to Manage it

Does your child drool unintentionally? Have you observed that your child’s pillow or clothes are drenched in wetness? Drooling is common in children below 3 years of age. But if it continues after the age of 4, it may indicate other underlying conditions. Keep reading to understand more about the causes, symptoms, tips and foods to manage excessive drooling in children.

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What is drooling?

Drooling is when too much saliva runs out of the mouth uncontrollably or unintentionally. It is also referred to as sialorrhea or ptyalism. Drooling is common in babies below 2 years of age because babies don’t have complete control over the muscles surrounding their mouth. People frequently drool while they are asleep. This can happen due to excessive salivation or weak oral muscles. Drooling can occasionally be a sign of neurological diseases such as autism, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy.

Also check, Food sensitivities in children

Types of drooling

Anterior sialorrhea

If the excess saliva is not contained, it will drip into the child’s face and, if not, their clothes.Cleanliness and skin care difficulties may result from this. As a result, they could also struggle to socialise.

Posterior sialorrhea

When saliva leaks down a children’s airway rather than being swallowed, it is referred to as posterior sialorrhea. Chronic lung irritation and other health problems can be brought on by this type of drooling issue.

Also check, Tips to manage sleep talking in kids

Symptoms of excessive drooling

The drooling is easily identifiable in case of anterior sialorrhea. Frequently, there is persistent drooling, which leaves chronically damp clothing. The drooling can occasionally be more severe at night which is characterised by damp bedding every morning.

Although posterior sialorrhea can be more hard to diagnose, it may need to be taken into account if the kid is frequently seen choking and coughing or seems susceptible to pneumonia.

Also check, Foods that help with Cerebral palsy

Causes of excessive drooling

Drooling may be a sign of a health issue, a developmental delay, or the side effect of some medications. It may result from anything that causes an excessive amount of saliva to be produced, trouble swallowing, a lack of sensation in the lips and cheeks, poor muscular tone or issues with muscle control. Here are some major causes of drooling:

1. Age

Drooling is common in newborns and infants. The secretion of excessive saliva usually peaks between three and six months of age, and teething may make symptoms even worse.

2.Diet

The consumption of particular meals and beverages may increase salivation. Foods with a high acidic nature, such as citrus fruit and sugary foods have been linked to increased salivation.

3.Neurological conditions

Drooling may be the symptom of certain neurological conditions like

Cerebral palsy
Autism
ADHD
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease
Down’s syndrome
Multiple sclerosis

These conditions may result in muscle weakness that make it difficult to swallow saliva (dysphagia) and seal the mouth.

4.Infections

Certain infections like allergies, strep throat, tonsillitis and sinus can make it difficult to swallow and cause excessive drooling.

5.GERD

Gastrointestinal reflux disorder (GERD) is a digestive issue which causes the contents in the stomach to return back to the esophagus (food pipe) which results in damage of the inner lining of the esophagus. Difficulty to swallow or the sensation of a lump in the throat can be brought on by GERD. Some people have excessive drooling as a result of this sensation.

Also check, Home remedies for acid reflux

6.Sleep apnea

Drooling may be a sign of sleep apnea. When you have sleep apnea, your breathing pauses periodically throughout the night, which disrupts your sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious condition and requires medical attention.

Also check, Improper sleep cycle in kids with ASD and ADHD

7.Side effects of medications

Some drugs may increase your tendency to drool. It has been demonstrated that antipsychotic drugs can make people drool excessively. Antibiotics might cause excessive drooling as well.

Treatment for excessive drooling

Therapies

Speech and occupational therapists can help with excessive drooling. They teach how to position and control the posture of the mouth which can help with lip closure and swallowing problems. Therapists may also advise that you consult a nutritionist in order to reduce the number of acidic foods in your diet.

Also check, Types of therapies in autism

Oral motor therapy

Oral motor refers to the way our mouth’s muscles are used. The tongue, lips, cheeks, and jaw are all included in this. All of them are components of our mouth that are connected to numerous muscles; like all muscles, they can be strong or weak. Oral motor mouth exercises indeed help in strengthening the oral muscles and also aid in chewing and swallowing actions.

Also check, Oral motor exercises for kids

Dental device

A specialised appliance implanted in the mouth aids with lip closure when swallowing. This choice will work best for the ones who have some swallowing control.

Tips for parents to manage excessive drooling in children

1.Sleeping position

Altering your child’s sleep position is the first thing you should do. In order to prevent saliva from dripping down your face or soaking your pillow, it is best to sleep on your back. This will allow you to better control the flow of saliva.

2. Sensory activities

Blowing bubbles, humming a song and making exaggerated lip noises like “ooh,” “eee,” and “puh-puh-puh” are the simple fun activities that improve oral sensitivity. As a result, a child’s lips, tongue, mouth, and chin become more sensitive. This helps your child to distinguish between dryness and wetness so that he/she can recognise when he is drooling.

Also check, Sensory activities for kids

3. Practice wiping with handkerchief

Encourage your child to use a napkin or handkerchief to wipe his face while he is learning to recognise the presence of wetness on his face. Practise of “wipe (one side of mouth), wipe (other side of mouth) and swallow” during mealtimes can help to promote this socially acceptable behaviour. To promote this practice during meals, attach the handkerchief to a bracelet of your child.

Also check, Tips to maintain personal hygiene

4. Avoid certain foods

Avoid citrus fruits, sweet foods, and sour foods that can trigger excess saliva production. Dry and bland food items like bread or crackers may assist in absorbing more saliva and offer quick relief.

5. Reward your kid

Make a reward system to encourage your child as they chew, swallow, wipe, and most importantly, keep their face dry and clean. Always try to encourage and compliment your child. For example:

“That’s fantastic. I’m very glad you chewed and swallowed the cookies !”

Foods that help to manage excessive drooling in children

The types of food that can aid motor functioning that can effectively impact oral functioning include:

1. Nuts

Children who bite and chew more fibrous sources of protein, such as nuts, have stronger jaws and are less likely to experience bite problems. Apart from that all the nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashew, peanuts and hazelnuts are rich in vitamin E and help in boosting memory. They are also antioxidants which protect against cell damage. Walnuts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and are also valuable substance for brain function, memory and thinking abilities.

Also check, Best nuts and seeds for protein.

2. Seeds

Seeds like flax, chia, melon, sesame and pumpkins also contain powerful antioxidants like vitamin E that protect the brain from free radical damage. Sunflower seeds impact overall mood and mental processing powers and therefore it is considered a brain boosting snack. Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, copper, and also higher in zinc than other seeds. They also help in increasing concentration and memory. Healthy brain can effectively help in improving oral functioning.

Also check, Health benefits of pumpkin seeds.

2. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen. It can help in reducing anxiety and stress. Moreover, it increases acetylcholine levels which support better memory, mental focus and intelligence. Ashwagandha also improves communication between nerve cells and stimulates the body’s capacity to heal any nervous system damage. For general nourishment and renewal, ashwagandha is typically eaten with ghee and honey (in equal parts), which serve as anupans (a medium for delivering herbs deeper into the tissues).

Also check, Health benefits of Ashwagandha.

3. Brahmi

Brahmi is a superfood for the brain. It helps in sharpening the brain by protecting cells and also increases the chemicals associated with learning and memory. It has shown to improve spatial learning and retaining power in kids. Kids in the older times, were often given Brahmi powder with ghee/honey. This would increase their focus and attention while keeping them calm and distressed. The most notable advantage of brahmi is that it enhances cognitive abilities and also stimulates the mind to increase focus and memory. Bacopa, taken twice daily at a dose of 300 mg, was found to improve test results related to cognitive function after six weeks of regular treatment.

Also check, Herbs for kids.

4. Shankhapushpi

Shankhapushpi is a traditional remedy for increasing the functioning of the brain. The powerful antioxidants and also the flavonoids present in it improve the memory capacity, focus, concentration, calmness and alertness of an individual. Because it is a brain tonic and stimulator, people taking shankhapushpi have improved memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and other cognitive abilities.

Also check, Herbs that help to get rid of brain fog.

5. Cocoa Powder

Pure cocoa powder (unsweetened) contains brain boosting components as it is packed with a large number of antioxidants molecules, the main is epicatechin helpful to improve cognition and speech impairment in studies. Hence cocoa powder is also an important brain development food for children. This may significantly help out in easily building up the oral motor skills.

Also check, More benefits of cocoa powder.

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What is drooling?

Drooling is a dripping of saliva from the mouth. A lot of drooling can irritate the skin of the face, neck, and chest. It can also be embarrassing to an older child.

What is the cause?

Itâ€™s normal for babies to drool. As babies get older, they normally stop drooling. Most children don’t drool after the age of 4 years. However, children with some disabilities drool a lot because their muscles and nerves donâ€™t work properly and itâ€™s hard for them to swallow saliva. A child may also drool if they are making too much saliva or if their teeth donâ€™t fit together in the right way.

How is it diagnosed?

Your childâ€™s healthcare provider will examine your child. Your child may have X-ray tests of swallowing.

How is it treated?

If your child drools a lot, the problem can be treated in several ways:

Treatment by a speech or occupational therapist
- Therapists can help your child learn to close the lips, move the saliva to the back of the mouth, and swallow.
- Learning how to use a straw to drink fluids can help.
- Improving posture and body position can also be helpful.
Medicines
Medicines may be used to help some children make less saliva while they are learning how to swallow better.
Surgery
Surgery may be done to change the direction of the ducts that lead from the salivary glands to the mouth, or to remove salivary gland tissue.

Sometimes the surgery may be done with a laser. This treatment allows a quicker recovery than other types of surgery.
Botulinum injection
Shots of a medicine called Botulinum toxin (Botox) may be given into the glands that make saliva. The shots are given after your child is given an anesthetic to numb the area. This treatment helps reduce drooling and lasts up to 8 months.

How can I take care of my child?

Follow the treatment recommended by your childâ€™s healthcare provider.
Use bibs to help protect skin and clothing. The use of bandannas, or a bib that matches the shirt or dress, especially in older children, can make the bib less noticeable.

Ask your healthcare provider:

How to take care of your child at home
What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if your child has them

Make sure you know when you should bring your child back for a checkup.

Developed by RelayHealth.

Pediatric Advisor 2015.1 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2014-01-28
Last reviewed: 2014-01-28

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan

November 18, 2022, Friday

Sialorrhoea is excessive salivation outside the oral cavity. This condition is considered pathological after 4 years of life. It can be considered both as a separate symptom and as a concomitant condition in various diseases (cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or as a side effect of taking medications.

Causes of sialorrhea can be:

• excessive production of saliva

• impaired control of saliva movement in the mouth or when it is swallowed.

In cerebral palsy, excessive salivation from the oral cavity occurs as a result of a violation of the transmission of neuromuscular impulses for the coordinated work of the muscles of the oral cavity, larynx, pharynx and esophagus and the act of swallowing itself. Thus, in children and adolescents with diagnosed neurological diseases, excessive salivation is primarily the result of impaired tongue function and swallowing control, and not the result of excessive salivation.

The prevalence of this problem among children and adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy is high – up to 58% of children, while up to 33% suffer from severe forms [1].

Excessive salivation in children and adolescents significantly affects the medical and social aspects of life. Occur: loss of fluid from the body, aspiration of saliva (ingress of saliva into the respiratory tract), skin lesions around the mouth. Parents have to constantly monitor the secretion of saliva, use napkins and bibs. The skin of a child diagnosed with sialorrhea requires special care. Excessive salivation can become an obstacle to the social adaptation of the child, can negatively affect his psychological state, limit his daily activity.

In the treatment of excessive salivation in children and adolescents, conservative, medical and surgical methods are used. There are contraindications, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

Conservative therapy includes:

• Power correction

• Speech therapy massage

• Various saliva collection

to drug therapy includes:

• Use of anticholinergics of drugs

• anticholinergic therapy (local subcutaneous injection of a special drug)

• injection of botulinum toxin into the salivary glands.

Surgical methods include:

• removal of the salivary glands

• termination of the nervous regulation of the salivary glands

• closure of the efferent ducts of the salivary glands toxin in the salivary glands under ultrasonic control. This drug has a local anticholinergic effect. It blocks the transmission of nerve impulses and reduces the secretion of saliva by the salivary glands. There are contraindications, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

Efficacy is achieved 2-4 weeks after injection and lasts up to 3 months or more after injection. Of the adverse reactions, dry mouth may occur, an increase in the viscosity of saliva.

In Russia, the use of this technique in chronic sialorrhea is included in the official indications for the use of botulinum toxin.

There are contraindications, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

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Memo to Parents – about croup syndrome in children

Memo to Parents – about croup syndrome in children
(developed by specialists of the Federal State Autonomous Institution “National Medical
Research Center for Children’s Health

In children of the first years of life, false croup occurs quite often, so parents need to be aware of this particular disease. Timely recognition of the symptoms of croup will help to cope with this condition faster.

What is false croup?

• Croup is difficulty in breathing due to constriction of the larynx. To feel where the larynx is, you can put your hand on the front of the neck and make any sound the larynx will vibrate under your hand.
• True croup is called inflammation of the larynx in diphtheria, when the lumen of the larynx is blocked by dense films. Fortunately, thanks to mass vaccinations around the world, this formidable severe disease is extremely rare these days.
• False croup – a condition in which it becomes difficult for a child to breathe due to swelling and narrowing of the airways. The reason is a viral infection, which leads to swelling of the mucous membrane not only in the nasopharynx, but also in the larynx and trachea. The most common cause of croup is the parainfluenza virus. The mucous membrane becomes inflamed under the action of the virus, swells, and although films do not form, as in diphtheria, the result is the same – it is difficult for the child to breathe.
• Part of the airway in the larynx is quite narrow, and if the mucous membrane swells, it can completely block the lumen of the larynx, and air will not enter the lungs. In children under 5-6 years of age, the airways are narrower than in adults, therefore, croup against the background of a viral infection usually develops in the first years of life, not occurring in older children and adults.
If a baby with a cold has a cough that becomes “barking”, and the voice is hoarse, breathing becomes noisy and difficult, it can be assumed that he is developing croup syndrome.

Can false croup be prevented?

• Not all children get croup. But one or two false croups at a younger age is a common situation that does not cause concern about the future.
• What predisposes to the development of croup? Obviously, there are children with peculiarities of the anatomy of the larynx, respiratory tract, who are more prone to this disease. Often, one of the parents of such babies also had croup in childhood. On the other hand, there are viruses that cause croup more often than others. Therefore, meeting with these pathogens increases the likelihood of developing a false croup.
• In most cases, false croup develops no more than once or twice in a lifetime. But there are children in whom almost every respiratory disease is complicated by croup.
• With age, the likelihood of developing croup decreases, and after 6-7 years this condition usually occurs only in special cases; in children with malformations of the larynx and trachea or in children with allergic reactions (swelling of the larynx is associated not with a viral infection, but with an allergy).

How does it all begin?
Usually, the usual symptoms of an acute respiratory infection appear first, that is, a runny nose, cough, and a fever is possible. The first signs of the proximity of a false croup arise or intensify in the evening and early morning: this is an increasing dry “barking” cough and a hoarse voice. Then the breath becomes “noisy” – at first only during crying or anxiety, that is, when the baby breathes deeper and faster. After a while, if left untreated, these symptoms persist even in a calm state.
With croup, it is difficult for a baby to inhale, that is, the inhalation turns out to be noisy, with effort, and the exhalation remains normal. During inhalation, you can notice how the jugular fossa (depression in the lower part of the neck between the collarbones) is drawn inward. This symptom appears only with severe swelling of the airways and is a reason for immediate help to the child.

What to do with false croup?

• So, the main three signs of the development of a false croup in a child are hoarseness, a rough “barking” cough (you can’t confuse it with anything!) and noisy breathing. In a child with a viral infection (with a runny nose), these symptoms usually appear suddenly at night or in the early morning.
• If this happened to your child, first of all, you need to calm yourself and the child, because with excitement, crying, the muscles of the larynx are compressed, and it becomes even harder to breathe.
• Call an ambulance!
• To alleviate the condition, you can apply cold to the front of the neck. You can open a window. Steam inhalation may help somewhat.
• However, these remedies do not work for everyone and besides, the procedure can waste precious time!
• If you have experienced this condition before, you most likely have a nebulizer at home, inhaled budesonide, and clear instructions from your pediatrician about the sequence of your actions.
• If this is not the case, and the situation is new to you, call an ambulance, do not waste time watching the child.
• Usually, with croup, the doctor prescribes special inhalations with a hormonal drug. Do not be afraid of the word “hormonal”, because this drug acts only locally – in the respiratory tract, eliminating inflammation, and no other medicine for false croup will not be so effective.
• In severe cases, the doctor will give the child a hormonal drug (prednisolone or dexamethasone) intramuscularly. Don’t worry about side effects because short courses of hormonal treatments are safe and life-saving in these situations!
• If you are offered to hospitalize your child, do not refuse, because after a temporary relief of breathing problems may recur!

What if not cereal?

Even if you are an experienced parent who knows how to deal with false croup in your children, you need to remember that there are conditions that can be confused with false croup. These include, for example, inflammation of the epiglottis (cartilage that closes the larynx when swallowing). This disease is called epiglottitis: the child’s temperature usually rises above 39‘C, sore throat worries, mouth opens with difficulty, salivation appears (problems with swallowing). In this case, hormonal drugs will not help. The child needs to be urgently hospitalized, and it is necessary to transport him in the presence of medical personnel, in a sitting position, without causing any discomfort, in order to reduce his excitement.