Twee kinderen die kwijlen: het syndroom van Worster-Drought

Two girls, 5 and 13 years of age, were seen by the pediatrician and the pediatric neurologist because of excessive drooling, dysarthria, dysphagia in the youngest girl and a mild right sided hemiparesis in the oldest girl. MRI revealed bilateral perisylvian ischemic abnormalities.Worster-Drought syndrome was diagnosed. Both girls were referred to the pediatric rehabilitation physician, who started a multidisciplinary treatment, with emphasis on speech therapy.With the use of oral motor treatment, the drooling was reduced and the articulation improved. The Worster-Drought syndrome is not unambiguously defined, and therefore often missed. It is a non-progressive congenital or early acquired pseudobulbar syndrome, characterized by drooling, dysarthria, feeding problems and pyramidal signs. A multidisciplinary treatment for these children is recommended.