Drooling in babies meaning: Drooling and Your Baby – HealthyChildren.org

What Does Mucus in Baby Stool Mean?

What causes mucus in baby stool?

There are many possible causes of mucus in baby stool. It may just mean that your baby has been drooling more than normal. However, mucus in poop can also be a warning sign of a medical problem, like an allergy or infection.

The intestines make mucus to help stool pass through smoothly. Sometimes, this mucus can end up in your baby’s diaper. When your baby’s poop contains mucus, you’ll probably notice that the inside of their diaper looks slimy. The poop tends to be a greenish color, with shiny strings streaking through it. The mucus may look jelly-like, rather than string-like.  

If your baby has been drooling a lot recently, the mucus may just be from undigested saliva. Babies can drool frequently when they’re teething. Excessive saliva in digestive tract and teething pain may irritate the intestines, which increases the amount of mucus in baby’s stool. Babies who have infections, like strep throat or tonsillitis, can also drool more than normal until they start feeling better.

Some babies are allergic to cow’s milk proteins. This type of allergy is known as allergic colitis, — around 2 to 3 percent of babies have it. Usually, symptoms appear within the first two months of a baby’s life, though they can appear later. Symptoms can include blood or mucus in the stool. Babies with allergic colitis can also vomit or have diarrhea. If your baby has this milk allergy, you may also notice that they’re very fussy.

Mucus in baby poop can also be caused by an infection, like a stomach flu. These infections irritate a baby’s intestines, so they can lead to inflammation and mucus. If your baby has an infection, they may have other symptoms in addition to the mucus in their poop. They could have a fever, or they could be irritable.

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Mucus in newborn stool

Newborn babies produce meconium, a special type of poop, in their first days of life. It’s black and sticky, and parents compare it to motor oil or tar. Meconium is made from various substances that babies ingest while they’re in utero, including amniotic fluid, skin cells, and mucus. This black poop will lighten up if your baby is feeding well, and in a few days, their poop will be a normal dark green or yellow color.

Is baby poop with mucus dangerous?

Baby poop that contains mucus often isn’t dangerous. However, mucus is sometimes a sign that your baby has a health issue that needs to be addressed. If your baby is experiencing other symptoms, or if the mucus keeps appearing in their diaper, they may need medical attention.

While mucus can just be a sign that your baby has been drooling, you shouldn’t ignore it. Baby poop with mucus can be a warning sign of a more serious medical concern, like an allergy or infection. This can be the case for babies who have other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhea. A fever that accompanies mucus in stool can also be a cause for concern. If your baby has mucus in their stool and seems unwell, take them to their pediatrician to get checked out. If your baby seems fine other than the mucus in their stool, keep an eye on them. They should be seen by a doctor if the mucus keeps showing up for two days or more.

In rare cases, baby poop with mucus can be a sign of intussusception, a medical emergency. This means the baby’s intestines have slid into each other, blocking blood flow to the intestines. Babies with this condition often have stools that look like dark red jelly. Call your child’s doctor right away if you notice this kind of stool.

Mucus diarrhea in babies: what’s the reason?

Mucus diarrhea in babies can be alarming for parents. If your baby has loose or runny stools that contain mucus, you may wonder what’s wrong. While there are many possible causes, diarrhea is usually caused by a virus. Allergies can also be responsible.

Since baby poop is normally fairly runny, it can be hard to tell if your baby has diarrhea. As a rule of thumb, if they suddenly have runnier or more frequently stools, and this lasts for three or more stools, they have diarrhea. The presence of mucus is another clue that your baby has diarrhea.

Acute diarrhea is usually caused by a viral infection in the intestines. Many viruses, including rotavirus, can be responsible for this type of diarrhea. The bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses, like salmonella, are another possible culprit. The main concern with diarrhea is the risk of dehydration. When babies get dehydrated, their soft spot can become sunken or depressed.

Mucus diarrhea in babies may also be a sign of allergic colitis, an allergy to milk proteins. This type of diarrhea can be easily treated; mothers who are breastfeeding will just need to eat a dairy-free diet, and mothers who use formula will need to switch to a hypoallergenic formula. It takes time for a baby’s intestines to heal, so their stools may take a few weeks to get back to normal.

There are many possible causes of mucus in baby poop. If you’re worried that your baby’s mucus is caused by a medical condition, take them to their pediatrician right away. Their doctor can determine the source of the mucus and, if necessary, begin a treatment.

UF Health, University of Florida Health

Definition

Drooling is saliva flowing outside the mouth.

Alternative Names

Salivation; Excessive saliva; Too much saliva; Sialorrhea

Considerations

Drooling is generally caused by:

• Problems keeping saliva in the mouth
• Problems with swallowing
• Too much saliva production

Some people with drooling problems are at increased risk of breathing saliva, food, or fluids into the lungs. This may cause harm if there is a problem with the body’s normal reflexes (such as gagging and coughing).

Causes

Some drooling in infants and toddlers is normal. It may occur with teething. Drooling in infants and young children may get worse with colds and allergies.

Drooling may happen if your body makes too much saliva. Infections can cause this, including:

• Mononucleosis
• Peritonsillar abscess
• Strep throat
• Sinus infections
• Tonsillitis

Other conditions that can cause too much saliva are:

• Allergies
• Heartburn or GERD (reflux)
• Poisoning (especially by pesticides)
• Pregnancy (may be due to pregnancy side effects, such as nausea or reflux)
• Reaction to snake or insect venom
• Swollen adenoids
• Use of certain medicines

Drooling may also be caused by nervous system disorders that make it hard to swallow. Examples are:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy (CP)
• Down syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson disease
• Stroke

Home Care

Popsicles or other cold objects (such as frozen bagels) may be helpful for young children who are drooling while teething. Take care to avoid choking when a child uses any of these objects.

For those with chronic drooling:

• Caregivers may try reminding the person to keep lips closed and chin up.
• Limit sugary foods, because they may increase the amount of saliva.
• Watch for skin breakdown around the lips and on the chin.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

• The cause of the drooling has not been diagnosed.
• There is concern about gagging or choking.
• A child has a fever, difficulty breathing, or holds their head in a strange position.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The provider will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history.

Testing depends on a person’s overall health and other symptoms.

A speech therapist can determine if the drooling increases the risk of breathing in food or fluids into the lungs. This is called aspiration. This may include information about:

• How to hold your head
• Lip and mouth exercises
• How to encourage you to swallow more often

Drooling caused by nervous system problems can often be managed with drugs that reduce saliva production. Different drops, patches, pills or liquid medicines may be tried.

If you have severe drooling, the provider may recommend:

• Botox shots
• Radiation to the salivary glands
• Surgery to remove the salivary glands

Images

References

Lee AW, Hess JM. Esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 79.

Marques DR, Carroll WE. Neurology. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 41.

Melio FR. Upper respiratory tract infections. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 65.

Reviewed By: 

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Why does a child drool?

October 6, 2017 But when saliva is produced in too much quantity, it can cause concern for parents.

Photo: Letidor.ruLetidor.ru

Rosa Serdyuk, chief physician of Okdoctor, a remote telemedicine consultation service, told Letidor when salivation is considered normal and when it can be a symptom of a disease.

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Why saliva is needed

Saliva is a clear, colorless liquid that is produced into the oral cavity by the salivary glands.

Its functions are quite diverse:

Participates in the initial stages of food processing: under the action of enzymes, gradual digestion of fats begins, enveloping food fragments, which facilitates the further movement of the food bolus along the digestive tract. Thanks to saliva, we can feel the taste of food, we have an appetite.

Protects – the substances contained in it prevent the excessive growth of pathogens; protects tooth enamel from the aggressive influence of acids and alkalis.

Contains substances that have an analgesic effect, which is important when teeth appear in babies.

Regulates the self-cleaning mechanisms of the mouth and teeth, washing them from food particles and bacteria.

Participates in the formation of speech.

What is considered normal

Hypersalivation, scientifically called increased salivation, is characterized by increased secretion of the salivary glands, as a result of which the child produces too much saliva.

The baby’s salivary glands begin their work in the womb. Their active functioning occurs closer to two months.

Children at 3-4 months of age often have saliva coming out of their mouths. This is due to immaturity in the control of salivation and ingestion of saliva (physiological salivation). At this age, the child tries to pull all objects into the mouth, thus recognizing the environment. Often, toys are not sterile, and microbes that enter the body begin to attack it.

In response to such an “invasion”, the active work of the salivary glands begins, which indicates the correct functioning of the immune system.

When a child has a runny nose and he has to breathe through his mouth, the work of his internal organs instantly changes. So that when air is inhaled, the mucosa does not dry out, the salivary glands begin to actively produce their secret, which helps to humidify the inhaled air and disinfect it.

There are also cases when the child chokes on saliva and coughs when breathing through the mouth, as they are unable to breathe and swallow the accumulated liquid at the same time.

For children under the age of two, this condition is considered physiological, it is associated with the appearance of teeth.

When medical attention is required

However, there are pathological conditions that are not physiological and require medical attention.

Pathology of the oral mucosa: eg thrush, stomatitis; viral diseases that affect the salivary glands themselves (viral sialadenitis), the so-called false hypersalivation, when the amount of saliva remains normal, and leakage occurs due to the pain syndrome associated with the above conditions.

Pathology of the nervous system (cerebral palsy, brain tumors, encephalitis, pseudobulbar syndrome (damage to the cranial nerves), etc.).

Problems in the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enteritis, etc.).

Worm infestations.

Poisoning with poisons, barbiturates, mercury, lead, etc.

What to do if the child is drooling heavily

The main thing is to recognize whether excessive salivation is a signal of a dangerous illness. This will be helped by a pediatrician who, if necessary, will refer the child to a narrow profile doctor to clarify the diagnosis and correct treatment.

If increased salivation is due to the imminent appearance of teeth, then the following can be recommended to the mother of the child:

Put bibs on the baby that do not get wet and protect the baby’s skin from hypothermia during a walk.

In case of skin lesions due to prolonged contact with saliva, lubricate the affected areas with dexpanthenol ointment or creams that contain retinol and vitamin E.

Offer cool teethers to the baby. They will temporarily relieve itching. You can also use anesthetic gels.

Keep things that the child puts in their mouth clean and cannot be swallowed.

Dysarthria in children

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Dysarthria in children is a persistent speech disorder, manifested in incorrect or difficult sound pronunciation, due to pathologies of the central nervous system or some diseases that affect the vocal, facial and respiratory muscles of a person. In childhood dysarthria, disorders are observed not only in the articulation of individual words and sounds, but also in speech in general, often leading to problems with learning to write and read.

The causes of dysarthria in children of violations can be: an unfavorable course of pregnancy, difficult childbirth, infectious diseases of the brain of the newborn, as well as head injuries, intoxication, hemorrhages and other serious diseases that provoke complications in the development of the nervous system.

Symptoms of dysarthria in children

The speech of dysarthric children is slurred and slurred. The facial muscles are very flaccid, weakened. Often there is increased salivation. The voice is inexpressive: sonorous with piercing notes or too soft and quiet. Such children either “talk”, pronouncing the words extremely quickly, or stretch out the speech, slowly pronouncing each syllable. At the same time, breathing is confused and uneven.

In children with dysarthria, a number of concomitant disorders are often detected: problems with chewing, swallowing, disorders of fine and gross motor skills, fatigue.

Forms of dysarthria in children

Specialists distinguish several forms of dysarthria in children. The classification is based on the difference in symptoms due to the nature and degree of damage to the nervous system:

• Severe form of speech dysarthria in children (anarthria) – complete or almost complete absence of speech and voice in a child, is a consequence of paralysis of the maxillofacial muscles. In most cases, it is found in children with cerebral palsy.
• With an average degree of speech dysarthria in children – speech is monotonous and monotonous, incomprehensible to others, pronunciation is fuzzy and slurred. Communication with these children is extremely limited. Quite often occurs against the background of a lag in intellectual development.
• Mild dysarthria in children (“erased”) is one of the most common forms of dysarthria. It is characterized by slight deviations in sound pronunciation. Speech is understandable but lacks clarity. It is diagnosed most often in children with ONR (general underdevelopment of speech) or with a weakened articulatory apparatus.

Treatment of dysarthria in children

The main goal in the treatment of dysarthria in children is the maximum possible development of the child’s speech so that it becomes understandable to others and does not interfere with the development of his personality and being in society.