Differential Diagnosis for Dry Mouth

• Single most likely diagnosis:
  • Medication side effect (e.g., anticholinergics, antidepressants, antihistamines): Many common medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect, making this a common and likely diagnosis.
• Other Likely diagnoses:
  • Dehydration: Inadequate fluid intake or excessive fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which often presents with dry mouth.
  • Sjögren's syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the glands that produce tears and saliva, leading to dry mouth and dry eyes.
  • Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can lead to increased urine production and dehydration, resulting in dry mouth.
  • Anxiety or stress: Can cause decreased saliva production, leading to dry mouth.
• Do Not Miss diagnoses:
  • Sarcoidosis: A condition that can affect various parts of the body, including the salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.
  • HIV/AIDS: Can cause dry mouth due to medication side effects, opportunistic infections, or the disease itself.
  • Tuberculosis: Although rare, TB can affect the salivary glands and cause dry mouth.
• Rare diagnoses:
  • Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins in various tissues, including the salivary glands, which can lead to dry mouth.
  • Hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder that can cause iron overload, potentially affecting the salivary glands and leading to dry mouth.
  • Graft-versus-host disease: A complication of stem cell or bone marrow transplantation that can affect the salivary glands and cause dry mouth.