Odynophagia

Painful swallowing and discomfort during the passage of liquids or solids through the oropharynx or esophagus, reflecting irritation, inflammation, ulceration, infection, or dysfunction of the swallowing pathway.

Causes

• Infectious causes

  • Common cold

  • Influenza

  • Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat)

  • Tonsillitis

  • Oral thrush (Candida infection)

  • Viral or bacterial esophagitis

  • Infectious ulcers of the oropharynx or esophagus

• Gastroesophageal and inflammatory causes

  • Gastroesophageal reflux diseas

  • Reflux esophagitis

  • Eosinophilic esophagitis

  • Pill-induced esophagitis

  • Inflammatory esophageal disorders

• Mucosal injury and ulcerative causes

  • Tobacco use

  • Alcohol abuse

  • Hot liquids causing thermal injury

  • Corrosive substance ingestion

  • NSAIDs

  • Antibiotics causing pill esophagitis

  • Radiotherapy-induced mucosal injury

  • Sharp food trauma

  • Foreign body injury

• Neoplastic causes

  • Esophageal cancer

  • Oropharyngeal tumors

• Neuromuscular and motility causes

  • Achalasia

  • Esophageal motility disorders

  • Neuromuscular diseases affecting swallowing coordination

  • Rare cranial nerve or muscle disorders

• Other causes

  • Tonsillar or peritonsillar inflammation

  • Trauma from instrumentation (endoscopy or intubation)

  • Autoimmune mucosal disorders

  • Severe dryness or irritation of the upper airway mucosa