An evidence-based approach to the child who drools saliva.

BACKGROUND Drooling is a common dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy and may also affect neurologically unimpaired children. It causes significant social handicap to both children and their families. METHODS The data in this article are supported by a Medline search (November 2008) utilising the keywords drooling, sialorrhea, botulinum toxin, salivary duct ligation and also by the use of the personal bibliographies of the senior authors. RESULTS The majority of the published literature for drooling is of level III/IV evidence. CONCLUSION Multiple therapeutic interventions are available for paediatric drooling. These are most appropriately introduced in a stepwise progression from behaviour therapy, to pharmacotherapy to surgical procedures.