Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
“Odynophagia” is the medical term forpain or discomfort while swallowing. The feeling can be described as burning or squeezing in any section from your neck to yoursternum (breastbone). The pain fades when you finish swallowing and the substance leaves youresophagus, which is the tube that connects the back of yourpharynx (throat)to your stomach.
Odynophagia can be a serious symptom because it may be a sign of a severe medical problem. It should not be confused with dysphagia, a condition that involves trouble with the act of swallowing. While the two issues can occur at the same time, they are distinct problems.
Painful swallowing can occur for many reasons. Common causes includeinfection,inflammation, and problems with the structure of the esophagus and/orthroat. Treatment varies based on the cause of the problem.
This article describes odynophagia’s causes, symptoms, and diagnosis. It also explains treatments and common complications of the problem.
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What Leads to Odynophagia?
Odynophagia can occur as the result of several medical conditions, including the following:
Infections involving yourtonsils, throat,epiglottis(the tissue at the base of the tongue that covers the windpipe), and esophagus can cause odynophagia. These include:
Structural problems or injuries in your esophagus or the surrounding areas that can cause odynophagia include:
Other sources of damage to your mouth, esophagus, or throat, that can cause odynophagia include:
Odynophagia on One or Both SidesPainful swallowing can occur on one or both sides of your throat. While painful swallowing typically affects your entire throat, pain on one side may be attributed to problems such as an obstructed foreign body, tumor, ulcer, or abscess on one side of your throat.
Odynophagia on One or Both Sides
Painful swallowing can occur on one or both sides of your throat. While painful swallowing typically affects your entire throat, pain on one side may be attributed to problems such as an obstructed foreign body, tumor, ulcer, or abscess on one side of your throat.
Odynophagia Feeling in Throat
Odynophagia can also involve the following symptoms that occur in your throat when swallowing begins or in your chest as food travels toward your stomach:
The symptoms and feelings of odynophagia differ from dysphagia, a condition that involves difficulty in the act of passing food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach.
While odynophagia can be linked to a wide range of underlying medical conditions, dysphagia typically involves an issue that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves used for swallowing. These changes interfere with the normal swallowing function.
Dysphagia is most common among older adults and people with conditions that affect the nervous system, such asParkinson’s disease,stroke,dementia, orhead injury.
Endoscopy to Diagnose Odynophagia
Painful swallowing can be a symptom of a serious condition, so it should not be ignored. Getting an accurate diagnosis can help you receive treatment for symptoms and an underlying condition as soon as possible for the best outcomes.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have painful swallowing and any of the following symptoms:
Depending on your symptoms and the findings of a healthcare provider, the following diagnostic tests may be used.
Endoscopywithbiopsy: This test uses an endoscope (a flexible tube with a small camera and light at the end) to examine your digestive tract. During the procedure, surgical tools are used to perform a biopsy (extract samples of abnormal tissues) for examination in a laboratory.
Barium swallow and upper GI series: These tests examine your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes your mouth, back of your throat, esophagus, stomach, and the first part of your small intestines. It involves swallowing a barium drink to make your upper GI area show up more clearly on X-rays and fluoroscopy (an X-ray that shows organs in motion) while you swallow.
Chest X-ray: This type of X-ray examines the inside of your chest to assess your lungs, heart, and other structures.
Esophageal pH monitoring: This test measures how often stomach acid enters your esophagus and how long it stays there. A small monitor is attached to the upper lining of your esophagus, where it measures acidity and transmitspH levels(a measure of acidity and alkalinity) to a recording device, usually for 24 hours.
Esophageal manometry: This test uses a small, flexible catheter to measure the function of your esophagus. The catheter is inserted through your nasal passage into your esophagus and passed into your stomach. Pressure sensors measure the pressure of the upper and lower esophageal valves and contractions as you swallow.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD or upper endoscopy): This type of endoscopy examines your upper GI tract, which includes the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of theduodenum(the first section of the small intestine).
HIV test: This test is used to determine whether you have acquired HIV. It can be performed using a sample of blood, saliva, or urine. Your healthcare provider will advise the best testing option based on your symptoms and other factors regarding the likely time of infection.
Throat culture or rapid tests for causes of infection: These tests often involve swabbing the back of your throat with a long cotton swab to obtain a sample. Rapid tests, such as for strep, can provide quick results. If a culture is needed, the swab is sent to a laboratory for further analysis to identify organisms causing an infection.
Odynophagia Treatment
Odynophagia treatment varies based on the underlying cause. Treatments for common problems include:
Treatment of an underlying condition or an esophageal injury can take time to promote a return to pain-free swallowing. You may be able to ease swallowing pain with the following strategies:
Making the following changes to your diet and eating habits can help you get the nutrition you need with painful swallowing:
Secondary Complications of Odynophagia
When odynophagia is a sign of an underlying medical condition, delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to complications related to the untreated problem. In cases of chronic diseases like GERD or cancer, the disease may worsen when treatment is delayed.
Living with odynophagia for any reason can lead to the following secondary complications:
Summary
Odynophagia, or painful swallowing, can feel like an intense burning or squeezing when you swallow. It can occur in any area from your neck to your breastbone.
Lozenges, numbing sprays, NSAIDs, and other over-the-counter pain medication can relieve symptoms of painful swallowing. However, treating the underlying cause of painful swallowing is the only way to achieve long-term relief.
Contact a healthcare provider if you have painful swallowing that lasts more than a few days or involves other symptoms like weight loss. Finding the cause of odynophagia can help you get the treatment you need.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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