Single most likely diagnosis:
- Teething: This is the most common cause of excessive salivation in babies. As teeth begin to erupt, babies often produce more saliva, which can be noticed as drooling.
Other Likely diagnoses:
- Drooling due to oral motor activity: Babies often explore their environment through mouthing objects, which can stimulate saliva production.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Although less common, GERD can cause excessive salivation as the body tries to neutralize stomach acid.
- Overstimulation or excitement: Sometimes, babies can salivate more when they are excited, hungry, or stimulated.
Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.):
- Congenital heart disease: In some cases, excessive salivation can be a sign of congestive heart failure, which is a life-threatening condition.
- Neurological disorders: Certain conditions, such as cerebral palsy or other neuromuscular diseases, can affect oral motor control and lead to excessive salivation.
Rare diagnoses:
- Hypothyroidism: This condition can cause excessive salivation, among other symptoms, although it is relatively rare in infants.
- Pyloric stenosis: This condition, which causes projectile vomiting, can also lead to excessive salivation in some cases.
- Oral or gastrointestinal obstruction: Although rare, an obstruction in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract can cause excessive salivation.