Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Drooling for a month, with ulcers on the corners of the mouth!Duration and persistence of the current illness: One month
Current general condition: Accompanied by runny nose, coughing
Medical history: None
Previous diagnoses and treatment history and effectiveness: None
Auxiliary examinations: None
Doctor's answer:
Hello: This issue needs to be explained starting from the characteristics of children's oral cavities. The oral cavity of a child changes with growth and development. Newborns have no teeth in their mouths, with a short and wide tongue, thick fatty layers in the cheeks, well-developed facial muscles, and thickened, protruding mucous membranes of the jawbones. All of these are conducive to gripping the nipple while feeding and coordinating sucking movements. Due to the absence of erupted teeth and underdeveloped alveolar ridges, the palate and oral floor of infants are relatively shallow. Between 6 to 7 months of age, the secretion of saliva gradually increases, but during this period, the swallowing reflex is not yet sensitive. Saliva is secreted without the obstruction of alveolar ridges and is not swallowed. As a result, children often exhibit drooling during this time, which is a physiological condition known as sialorrhea and does not require treatment. As the child grows, teeth erupt, alveolar ridges gradually form, the palate slowly rises, the oral floor gradually deepens, and swallowing movements are trained, leading to the improvement of drooling.Parents should pay attention that in some cases, drooling in infants is pathological, indicating that the child may be suffering from certain diseases. For example, if the child drools excessively and has cracked, inflamed corners of the mouth, it is likely due to angular cheilitis. If accompanied by redness or ulcers in the oral mucosa, refusal to eat, and irritability, it may be caused by stomatitis. If accompanied by unilateral or bilateral facial muscle atrophy and weak chewing ability, it is likely due to poor digestion or intestinal ascariasis. If accompanied by intellectual disability or dementia, it may be due to underdevelopment of the brain's nervous system. These pathological cases of sialorrhea require medical examination and treatment. Generally, once the underlying cause is addressed, the child's drooling will improve or resolve.
Since saliva contains digestive enzymes and other substances