What does sialorrhea mean?

This term refers to excessive salivation caused by difficulty swallowing effectively. Sialorrhea is derived from Greek (saliva, meaning “spit”). In ALS, the excess saliva is not caused by increased saliva production, but rather by a reduced ability to swallow saliva. With normal swallowing function, 1.5 liters of saliva—produced throughout the day by the glands in the oral cavity—are swallowed unnoticed.

When there is a motor impairment of the swallowing process, the transport of saliva becomes disrupted, leading to an accumulation of saliva in the mouth. Sialorrhea is a common symptom of ALS, always occurring in conjunction with dysphagia. It can range from mild sialorrhea (a sensation of increased moisture in the mouth) to severe sialorrhea (excessive salivation with saliva leaking from the mouth). Effective treatment of sialorrhea is an important goal of symptomatic management, for which several medications are used.