Article

Saliva was collected from 61 healthy children (30 males, mean age 9y 5mo [SD 11mo]; 31
females, mean age 9y 6mo [1y 2mo]) and 100 children with CP who drooled (57
males, mean age 9y 5mo [3y 11mo], range 3-19y; 43 females, mean age 10y 1mo [4y
9mo], range 4-19y), of whom 53 had spastic, 42 had dyskinetic, and five had
ataxic CP. Almost all children were affected bilaterally, and 90 of them were at
Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III or higher. The saliva was
collected by the swab saliva collection method. The intensity of drooling was
evaluated using the drooling quotient. RESULTS: No difference was found in the
flow rates, age, or sex between healthy children and children with CP who
drooled. On additional subgroup analysis, the flow rates of children with
dyskinetic CP differed statistically from those of healthy children
(submandibular p=0.047, parotid p=0.040). INTERPRETATION: This study supports the
finding in previous studies that no hypersalivation exists in children with CP
who drool. Dysfunctional oral motor control seems to be responsible for saliva
overflow from the mouth, whereas increased unstimulated salivary flow may occur
in children with dyskinetic CP as a result of hyperkinetic oral movements.

Langue : ANGLAIS