Dysphagia and Odynophagia

Dysphagia and odynophagia are common disorders encountered by primary care physicians. Dysphagia is the abnormal transit of solids and/or liquids, while odynophagia is pain during swallowing. Dysphagia is not a benign process and may cause dehydration, aspiration, nutritional deficiencies, or airway obstruction. Dysphagia may be classified by anatomic location (esophageal vs. oropharyngeal), etiology (structural vs. motor), or substance (solids vs. liquids). These classifications are of significant importance as they assist the clinician in identifying the etiology of dysphagia. Odynophagia, pain during swallowing, is commonly caused by any inflammation or infection from the oropharynx to the esophagus. This chapter delineates the different types of dysphagia, along with their diagnosis and management, as well as the various inflammatory and infectious causes of odynophagia.