In this guide
6 min readSymptom Guide
Difficulty swallowing, also called dysphagia, means food or liquid does not pass normally from the mouth to the stomach. Progressive or recurrent symptoms need evaluation.
Key Takeaways
- Reflux-related injury
- Food-pipe stricture or ring
- Motility disorder
- Infection or inflammation
- Suspicious growth or cancer risk
Common causes
The cause may be structural, inflammatory or related to movement of the food pipe.
- Reflux-related injury
- Food-pipe stricture or ring
- Motility disorder
- Infection or inflammation
- Suspicious growth or cancer risk
Warning signs
Some swallowing symptoms should be assessed early.
- Progressive difficulty from solids to liquids
- Weight loss
- Vomiting or food regurgitation
- Anemia or black stool
- Painful swallowing
Tests used
Endoscopy is commonly used to examine the food pipe. Biopsy, dilation or imaging may be advised depending on findings.
Treatment options
Treatment may include reflux medicines, dilation for suitable strictures, biopsy-based treatment or referral depending on cause.