Increased drooling is a common symptom when the body is fighting an illness. Drooling is the unintentional loss of saliva from the mouth, usually occurring when the normal mechanisms for clearing it are temporarily disrupted. When a person is unwell, the body’s response to infection or inflammation interferes with the balance between saliva production and the unconscious act of swallowing. This temporary change results in saliva pooling in the mouth and spilling over the lip margin, a noticeable side effect of battling a sickness.
Why Illness Increases Drooling
Illness, particularly those affecting the upper respiratory system, disrupts saliva management through two primary mechanisms. The first involves mechanical obstruction. When upper respiratory inflammation causes nasal passages to become blocked with mucus and swelling, the person is forced to breathe through their mouth, especially while sleeping. This mouth breathing allows saliva to escape easily from the open mouth, resulting in drooling even if saliva production is normal.
The second mechanism involves a temporary impairment of the swallowing reflex, or decreased clearance. When the throat is inflamed or painful, such as with infections affecting the pharynx or tonsils, the discomfort makes the normal, unconscious act of swallowing difficult. To avoid pain, the body swallows less frequently, causing saliva to accumulate in the oral cavity. This pooling quickly leads to overflow and increased drooling.
The inflammation temporarily disturbs the coordination required for the swallow reflex. Maintaining good hydration can help thin the saliva, making it easier to manage and swallow. The temporary solution to drooling lies in addressing the underlying swelling and pain that interferes with swallowing coordination.
Specific Conditions That Trigger Excess Saliva
Several common conditions trigger the mechanisms that result in noticeable drooling. Upper respiratory infections, including the common cold or a sinus infection, are frequent causes because they produce significant nasal congestion. This blockage necessitates mouth breathing, which is the mechanical cause of saliva loss.
Infections that cause severe throat pain, such as strep throat or tonsillitis, lead to drooling due to impaired swallowing. The intense inflammation makes the normal reflex painful, leading to saliva pooling and subsequent drooling. This is an involuntary protective response to minimize discomfort.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) frequently causes “water brash,” a rapid production of excess saliva. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, the body attempts to protect the lining by flushing the area with bicarbonate-rich saliva to neutralize the acid. This sudden increase in salivary flow can overwhelm the mouth’s capacity, causing drooling.
Finally, infections or inflammation within the mouth, such as dental abscesses or severe ulcers, can stimulate the salivary glands to produce more fluid. The increased saliva acts as a natural rinse to help clear bacteria and debris. This protective mechanism temporarily results in a greater volume of saliva that must be managed.
When Drooling Indicates a Serious Problem
While drooling is usually a temporary symptom of a common illness, its sudden onset or persistence alongside other symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying medical issue. Any sudden and severe increase in drooling in an adult or older child, especially when accompanied by a high fever, warrants immediate medical attention. This combination can signal an acute infection rapidly causing swelling in the throat, such as a peritonsillar abscess or the rare condition known as epiglottitis.
An inability to swallow anything, including one’s own saliva or water, suggests a severe obstruction or neurological impairment. If drooling is accompanied by noticeable changes in motor function, such as facial weakness, slurred speech, or difficulty controlling other muscles, it may signal a neurological event like a stroke. Persistent, excessive drooling that leads to repeated coughing or choking raises concern for aspiration, where saliva enters the lungs, potentially leading to aspiration pneumonia.