Question
The girl is 18 months old and has an unusually excessive amount of saliva. How should it be handled?
Answer
Hello: Drooling in infants is a natural occurrence that comes with growth and development. Newborns’ oral structures are not fully developed, and as teeth emerge and swallowing reflexes develop, drooling gradually decreases. However, if drooling is accompanied by symptoms such as inflammation at the corners of the mouth, congestion of the oral mucosa, or refusal to eat, it may indicate that the child has angular cheilitis or stomatitis and should be examined and treated at a hospital. Additionally, if the child shows symptoms such as facial muscle atrophy, weakness in chewing, and incomplete mental development, these may be related to poor digestion, intestinal worms, or underdevelopment of the nervous system, and early diagnosis and treatment should be sought. In summary, normal physiological drooling is nothing to worry about, but if there are abnormal symptoms, special attention should be paid and professional medical advice should be sought.