Drooling of saliva in children with cerebral palsy-etiology, prevalence, and relationship to salivary flow rate in an Indian population.

The prevalence of drooling, the impact of various etiological factors on its severity, and its relationship to salivary flow rate were assessed in 113 individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). In this study, there were 74 males and 39 females with an age range of 6-18 years who were attending a special school in Chennai, India. The severity of drooling was assessed by visual examination; demographics and data regarding severity and control of drooling were collected via a questionnaire. Data regarding the type of CP and drugs taken by the children were obtained from the medical records maintained by the school. The unstimulated salivary flow rate of these children was determined through a passive method. The overall incidence of drooling was 48.7%, with 17.7% having severe drooling. Individuals with athetosis had the least severe amount of drooling. There was a significant relationship between ability to close the mouth and the severity of drooling. The severity of drooling was reduced with age. There was no significant difference in the mean salivary flow rate of those children who drooled and those who did not.