Differential Diagnosis for Dryness of Mouth
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Dehydration: This is often the most common cause of dry mouth, resulting from inadequate fluid intake or excessive fluid loss.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Medication side effects (e.g., anticholinergics, antidepressants, antihistamines): Many medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect.
- Sjögren's syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and damage to the salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.
- Aging: Older adults may experience a decrease in salivary gland function, leading to dry mouth.
- Anxiety or stress: Can cause decreased saliva production, leading to dry mouth.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Sarcoidosis: A rare autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and damage to the salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.
- HIV/AIDS: Can cause dry mouth due to medication side effects, opportunistic infections, or direct involvement of the salivary glands.
- Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes can cause dry mouth due to high blood sugar levels and dehydration.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Amyloidosis: A rare condition characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins in various tissues, including the salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.
- Graft-versus-host disease: A complication of bone marrow transplantation that can cause dry mouth due to inflammation and damage to the salivary glands.
- Ectodermal dysplasias: A group of rare genetic disorders that can affect the development of the salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.