Drooling

About the Symptom

Drooling is a condition where saliva flows out of your mouth uncontrollably. This could be due to a buildup of saliva or weak muscles around your mouth. Drooling can sometimes be caused by neurological diseases or other medical conditions such as food blocking the esophagus.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Neck pain / stiffness
• Dysphagia
• Headache
• Chest pain during swallowing
• Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
• Fever

Possible Causes

Generally, Drooling can be related to:

• Suppurative Lymphadenitis

  Lymphadenitis suppurativa is the inflammation and suppuration (pus formation) of lymph nodes in the body.

• Telangiectasia Ataxia

  Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare, inherited disorder that affects the nervous system, immune system, and other body systems starting in childhood, typically before age 5. It causes progressive difficulty with coordinating movements (ataxia), increased risk of cancer and infections. The disorder is due to mutations in the ATM gene, which controls the production of an enzyme that regulates cell division after DNA damage.

• Acute Tonsillitis / Pharyngitis

  Infection of the tonsils and pharynx (back of the mouth), either by viruses or bacteria.

• Acute / Chronic Tracheitis / Bronchitis
• Burn/Scald of Roof of Mouth

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Drooling may be related to these serious diseases:

• Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess

  A bacterial infection of the areas around the tonsils and deep parts of the neck. Pus accumulates in these areas forming an abscess.

• Acute Epiglottitis
• Bell's Palsy

• Streptococcal infection

• Esophageal Foreign Body

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you drool due to difficulty swallowing saliva?
• Have you experienced drooling (inability to swallow saliva) before?
• How long have you had drooling (inability to swallow saliva)?

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