DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Dry mouth

Why: to establish if acute or chronic.

Why: elderly people often complain of a dry mouth as salivary secretion tends to fall with age.

Why: e.g. stuffy nose, mouth breathing, snoring, stage fright, fear, anxiety.

Why: may suggest inadequate intake of fluid and dehydration as cause of dry mouth e.g. poor fluid intake due to illness, anorexia, malnutrition or neglect.

Why: may cause dry mouth if the head and neck has been exposed to radiation.

Why: e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary biliary cirrhosis, diabetes insipidus, Raynaud's phenomenon, systemic sclerosis, chronic active hepatitis and vasculitis may all be associated with Sjogren's syndrome; Diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, hyperparathyroidism, kidney failure, hypercalcaemia can all cause excessive urination, dehydration and thus dry mouth; Vitamin A deficiency and dry mouth may occur in people with liver disease, intestinal sprue, after intestinal bypass and if receiving total parenteral nutrition.

Why: e.g. antihistamines, some diuretics, some high blood pressure medications, some muscle spasm medications, certain decongestants, tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergics medications and tranquilizer medications may cause dry mouth.

Why: e.g. amphetamine intoxication and marijuana may cause dry eyes.

Why: nutritional deficiency states may cause dry mouth such as Vitamin B2 and Vitamin A deficiency; dietary deficiency of Vitamin A is often due to failure to incorporate green leafy vegetables into the diet usually exclusively in developing countries may cause night blindness and dry eyes; Botulism food poisoning from preserved anaerobic food.

Why: e.g. thirst, postural dizziness, fainting and reduced urine output - may cause dry mouth.

Why: e.g. dry eyes, dryness of the mouth, skin or vagina. This syndrome may be associated with many systemic conditions such as Raynaud's phenomenon, difficulty in swallowing (as seen in systemic sclerosis), painful joints (like that seen with systemic lupus erythematosus), thyroid disease, myasthenia gravis, primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, renal diabetes insipidus, renal tubular acidosis and vasculitis.

Why: e.g. joint pain, swelling, deformity and morning stiffness. It may also cause a number of systemic symptoms including carpal tunnel syndrome, anemia and enlarged spleen. 15% of people with Rheumatoid arthritis have a secondary Sjogren's syndrome which comprises dry eyes and dry mouth.

Why: e.g. frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, fatigue - dry mouth may be present in uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes mellitus due to excessive urination.

Why: e.g. vomiting, diarrhea, fever, excessive urination, extensive exfoliation of skin, gastrointestinal bleeding.

Why: e.g. painful swelling of the salivary gland after eating.

Why: e.g. double vision, blurred vision, sensitivity of the eyes to light, poor coordination, difficulty with speaking and dry mouth - may suggest botulism caused by the neurotoxin of clostridium botulinum which flourishes in preserved anaerobic food.

Why: e.g. itchy skin, jaundiced (yellowing) skin.

Why: e.g. sequential discoloration of the digits from pallor to blueness to redness upon exposure to cold. When fingers become red they are painful. Raynaud's phenomenon may be associated with Sjogren's syndrome.