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Watch our film to see how sialorrhoea impacts quality of life and learn about available treatment options.

Sialorrhoea is common in children with various neurological disorders,<a href="/hcp/references/#6" title="6" data-anchor="#6">6</a> including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and facial nerve palsy.<a href="/hcp/references/#21" title="References" data-anchor="#21">21</a> In these patients, sialorrhoea is caused by two factors; difficulty swallowing saliva and an inability to retain saliva in the mouth due to lack of oral motor control.<a href="/hcp/references/#5" title="References" data-anchor="#5">5</a>,<a href="/hcp/references/#27" title="27" data-anchor="#27">27</a> 
  
Sialorrhoea can be exacerbated by poor posture and lack of head control. These are common traits of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.<a href="/hcp/references/#27" title="27" data-anchor="#27">27</a>

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Sialorrhoea can have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life and contribute to social exclusion, self-esteem issues and substantial discomfort for affected children and their families/carers.<a href="/hcp/references/#10" title="References" data-anchor="#10">10</a>,<a href="/hcp/references/#28" title="References" data-anchor="#28">28</a>

There are several systems employed for the clinical assessment and measurement of the degree and impact of drooling.<a href="/hcp/references/#10" title="References" data-anchor="#10">10</a> Discussion with healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines is recommended.<a href="/hcp/references/#1" title="References" data-anchor="#1">1</a>

Management options to control excess salivation in children include behavioural and non-medical interventions, medications and surgery.<a href="/hcp/references/#1" title="References" data-anchor="#1">1</a>