Sialorrhea is common in children with neurologic impairment
Sialorrhea can be normal in children with typical development until age 4 years. It occurs in as many as 44% of children with cerebral palsy.1 It typically results from poor oral motor control and fluctuates alongside the child’s developmental trajectory. Reversible contributors such as nasal obstruction, dental issues, and medication effects (e.g., benzodiazepines and clozapine) should be considered.
Treatment is guided by adverse effects and the impact on quality of life
In children with neurologic impairment, overall function, comorbidities, and goals of care are dynamic, and sialorrhea may also fluctuate. Adverse effects include skin breakdown, aspiration and respiratory deterioration, social isolation, lower quality of life, and high caregiver burden.2 Intervention is warranted if complications occur, particularly for recurrent or severe aspiration events.
Nonmedical interventions can be beneficial
Reminders to swallow may be helpful, and speech or occupational therapy can improve oral motor skills. Adaptive seating, bibs, barrier creams, and suction devices lessen the impact of drooling.
Anticholinergic medications have variable efficacy and are titrated based on therapeutic response and adverse effects
Atropine 1% (ophthalmic formulation; off label) is dosed at 1–2 drops sublingually up to every 4 hours as necessary. Glycopyrrolate is started at 0.02 mg/kg orally or via gastrostomy tube 3 times daily and titrated every 5–7 days at 0.02 mg/kg increments (maximum dose 0.1 mg/kg). Adverse effects include xerostomia, constipation, urinary retention, tachycardia, visual disturbance, and behavioural changes.3
Botulinum toxin injection or surgical interventions may benefit those who do not adequately respond to, or cannot take, medications
Botulinum toxin injection of the salivary glands substantially decreases the severity of sialorrhea; it is generally performed under ultrasonography guidance and sedation every 4–6 months.4,5 In refractory cases, surgical options include salivary gland excision or salivary duct ligation.5
Footnotes
Competing interests: Julie Strychowsky reports a Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Catalyst Grant at Western University and an Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario grant outside the submitted work. No other competing interests were declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original publication is properly cited, the use is noncommercial (i.e., research or educational use), and no modifications or adaptations are made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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- Sialorrhea is common in children with neurologic impairment
- Treatment is guided by adverse effects and the impact on quality of life
- Nonmedical interventions can be beneficial
- Anticholinergic medications have variable efficacy and are titrated based on therapeutic response and adverse effects
- Botulinum toxin injection or surgical interventions may benefit those who do not adequately respond to, or cannot take, medications
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