Drooling

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Drooling

Overview

Treatment

Drooling

Definition:

Saliva flowing outside the mouth.

Alternative Names:

Salivation

Considerations:

Drooling is generally caused by excess production of saliva, inability to retain saliva within the mouth, or problems with swallowing.

Some people with drooling problems are at increased risk of inhaling saliva, food, or fluids into the lungs. However, this is unlikely to cause harm, unless the body's normal reflex mechanisms (such as gagging and coughing) are also impaired.

Common Causes:

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Isolated drooling in infants and toddlers is normal and is unlikely to be a sign of either disease or complications. It may be associated with teething. Drooling in infants and young children may be exacerbated by upper respiratory infections and nasal allergies.

Drooling associated with fever or trouble swallowing may be a sign of a more serious disease including:

Retropharyngeal abscess
Peritonsillar abscess
Tonsilitis
Mononucleosis
Strep throat

A sudden onset of drooling may indicate poisoning (especially by pesticides) or reaction to snake or insect venom. Some medications can cause drooling as well. Some neurological problems also cause drooling.