Drooling also impedes social integration. This article reviews the use of atropine sulfate to reduce salivation and help relieve the medical and social problems of drooling. Saliva is produced by both the major and minor salivary glands. Some persons are unable to swallow their saliva fast enough to prevent drooling. Excessive drooling is a distressing condition that can create significant hygienic and psychosocial problems.
Several factors predispose the development of sialorrhea.
Incompetent control of orofacial, head, and neck musculature is common in patients with cerebral palsy cerebrovascular accidents, head injuries, mental retardation, motor neuron diseases, Parkinson's disease, and other neurologic disorders. Thorough dental and medical evaluations are important to determine the causes of sialorrhea. Detailed evaluations can help answer this question. Counting the number of bibs or shirts soiled each day provides a subjective estimate of the severity of the condition. Physical findings such as skin maceration on the neck, chest, and hands due to dampness and constant wiping confirm initial impressions of severity and indicate the need for treatment.