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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms that can be associated with dysphagia may include:
- Pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
- Not being able to swallow
- Sensation of food getting stuck in your throat or chest, or behind your breastbone (sternum)
- Drooling
- Hoarseness
- Bringing food back up (regurgitation)
- Frequent heartburn
- Food or stomach acid backing up into your throat
- Unexpected weight loss
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing
In infants and children, signs and symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:
- Lack of attention during feeding or meals
- Tensing of the body during feeding
- Refusing to eat foods of different textures
- Lengthy feeding or eating times (30 minutes or longer)
- Breast-feeding problems
- Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
- Coughing or choking during feeding or meals
- Spitting up or vomiting during feeding or meals
- Inability to coordinate breathing with eating and drinking
- Weight loss or slow weight gain or growth
- Recurrent pneumonia
When to see a doctor
- Obstructions. If an obstruction interferes with breathing, call for emergency help immediately. If you're unable to swallow due to an obstruction, go to the nearest emergency department.
- Ongoing problems. Slight or occasional difficulty swallowing usually isn't cause for concern or action. But difficulty swallowing can indicate a serious medical problem, such as esophageal cancer. See your doctor if you regularly have difficulty swallowing or if difficulty swallowing is accompanied by weight loss, regurgitation or vomiting.
- Children. If you suspect that your child has trouble swallowing, contact your child's doctor. He or she may refer you and your child to a doctor who specializes in treating children with feeding and swallowing disorders.
References
- Dysphagia. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/dysph.asp. Accessed Aug. 1, 2009.
- Fass R. Approach to the patient with dysphagia. http://www.uptodate.com/index/home.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Dysphagia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec02/ch012/ch012b.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Goyal RK. Dysphagia. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2888607. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Feeding and swallowing disorders in children. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/FeedSwallowChildren.htm. Accessed Aug. 1, 2009.
- Swallowing trouble. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/swallowingTrouble.cfm. Accessed Aug. 1, 2009.
- Barrett KE. Esophageal Motility. In: Barrett KE. Gastrointestinal Physiology. New York, N.Y.: Lange Medical/McGraw Hill Medical; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2307248. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. Aug. 13, 2009.
