Management of drooling in children with cerebral palsy: A French survey.

[AIM] To characterise children with cerebral palsy (CP) and pathological drooling in France, and to describe care pathways, assessment and treatment.

[METHOD] A transversal, observational, descriptive survey of the practices and opinions of 400 health professionals potentially involved in the care of children with CP, was carried out nationally across France in 2013.

[RESULTS] The response rate was 36%. Seventy-five questionnaires were returned and analysed (52%). A small proportion of children were specifically treated for drooling (<25%). Assessments were carried out in 75% of cases and 91% of professionals prescribed treatments. Use of assessment tools varied widely. The most common treatment was oro-facial rehabilitation (95% of professionals), followed by anticholinergic drugs (Scopolamine(®)) (94%) botulinum toxin injections (BT) (66%) and surgery (34%). Scopolamine was considered to be less effective than BT and to have more side effects.

[CONCLUSION] The rate of pathological drooling in children with CP is likely underestimated and under treated in France. There is a lack of knowledge regarding assessment tools. Aside from rehabilitation, current practice is to prescribe medication as the first-line treatment, however professionals consider that BT is more effective and has less side effects.