Impact of sialorrhoea

Impacts

Sialorrhoea can lead to physical complications:

Skin cracking around the mouth, causing discomfort for the child, which can lead to infection⁸

Dehydration, caused by chronic fluid loss through the saliva^3,8,15,30

Lung infections due to chronic aspiration of saliva^1,6,8

Wetting of tops, t-shirts and bedding, causing unpleasant odour as a result of excessive salivation^8,22

cartoon blue boy drooling onto his t shirt

cartoon mother and drooling child wearing bib in a supermarket looking embarrassed and being pointed at

Impact on family

Sialorrhoea can impact the quality of life of families as well as the patient.¹⁰

Parents or carers need to pay extra attention to keep the child dry and comfortable. This can include frequent clothing changes and extra wash loads, which can be a burden for the caregiver.^6,19,23

Further to this, drooling may be associated with considerable social embarrassment and isolation for parents, families and carers.^7,10

cartoon depicting a mother surrounded by four bibs covered in saliva

Sialorrhoea may not be the most severe symptom for children with complex neurological disorders, but decreasing its impact through treatment can greatly improve their quality of life.⁶

Find out more about assessment

Visit our public website, where we have created resources and information to help educate about sialorrhoea.

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drooling cartoon teddy bear reading a cartoon page

Impacts

Sialorrhoea can lead to physical complications:

Sialorrhoea can have psychological impacts:

Impact on family