Reduction of flow of saliva is not generally seen in:

# Reduction of flow of saliva is not generally seen in:

A. Elderly diabetes

B. Patient undergoing radiation

C. Patient suffering from parkinsonism

D. Patient of Phenothiazine drugs

The correct answer is C. Patient suffering from Parkinsonism.

Xerostomia : It is the subjective clinical condition of less than normal amount of saliva. It is dryness of mouth, which is a clinical manifestation of salivary gland dysfunction.

Causes:

- Radiation induced

- Pharmacologically induced xerostomia—there are about 500 drugs which can cause xerostomia. The classes of drugs which cause xerostomia include anticonvulsants, antiemetics, antihistaminics, anti-hypertensives and antispasmodics. The mode of action for decreased salivary flow is generally related to the para-sympathetic activity, usually an antimuscarine effect.

- Smoking, Mouth breathing

- Developmental—developmental abnormalities of salivary glands, tumors, autoimmune states and certain diseases which affect afferent or efferent portions of neural transmission reflex

- Systemic alternations resulting in xerostomia 

• Nutritional—certain deficiency states like pernicious anemia, iron deficiency anemia and deficiency of

vitamin A and hormones can cause xerostomia.

• Fluid loss—fluid loss associated with hemorrhage, sweating, diarrhea, vomiting.

• Diabetes mellitus—it is associated with xerostomia.

• Sjögren syndrome—xerostomia is also common in Sjögren syndrome.

• Other disease—systemic diseases, which are accompanied by high temperature and dehydration, usually result in diminished salivation. Xerostomia may also be found in HIV infection, sarcoidosis, and graft versus host resistance.

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