Difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia in medical terms, can arise from a wide variety of causes, which can be organic, bacterial or psychological. It is necessary to clarify where the causes lie. This usually requires a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Therapy must be based on the cause of the swallowing difficulties.
What are swallowing problems?
Momentary dysphagia from a cold with a sore throat is the most common swallowing complaint. Difficulty swallowing is defined as difficulty swallowing normally. Difficulty swallowing may be triggered by pain in the throat or may be caused by other circumstances. They may occur acutely or be chronic. Organs located in the throat area, as well as bacteria or viruses, may be involved in triggering the difficulty in swallowing. Momentary difficulty swallowing during a cold with a sore throat is the most common swallowing complaint. Painful swallowing symptoms are usually seen by a doctor much sooner than those without pain.
Causes
Whether the difficulty in swallowing is caused by an acute sore throat or other circumstances must be clarified. Psychological reasons can also lead to difficulty swallowing, choking fears, and intense body awareness. In most cases, however, the swallowing difficulties are organically caused. They may be caused by cysts or tonsillitis, oral thrush, pharyngitis or laryngitis. The lymph nodes or thyroid gland may be involved in swallowing problems. Inflamed salivary glands, small injuries in the oral cavity with subsequent inflammation or an oral abscess can trigger swallowing difficulties. A disease of the vocal cords or tongue is also possible. Fungus or scarlet fever can also cause swallowing difficulties. A special case is the so-called angioedema or Quincke’s edema, which is triggered by an allergic reaction. All kinds of allergens can be the cause of such swallowing difficulties. In children, epiglottitis, an inflammation of the laryngeal epiglottis, is known to cause swallowing difficulties. Especially in them, burns or chemical burns can also easily occur due to careless eating, an accidentally swallowed insect or the unobserved ingestion of cleaning agents and the like. Such swallowing problems are extremely painful and require immediate countermeasures.
Diseases with this symptom
- Common cold
- Burn (scald)
- Esophageal stenosis
- Esophagitis
- Tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis
- Mycosis
- Chemical burn
- Mouth rot
- Laryngitis
- Scarlet fever
- Esophageal cancer
Diagnosis and course
The diagnosis of swallowing difficulties and the subsequent course always depend on the diagnosed underlying problem. First, one will try to trace the swallowing difficulties by interviewing the patient. Then one has the opportunity to palpate the outside of the neck for swelling. This can detect involvement of the glands located on the neck. A goiter can be used to infer thyroid disease as the cause of the swallowing difficulties. Swelling of the glands, on the other hand, is more indicative of an inflammatory process as the trigger of the swallowing difficulties. It is also important to look down the throat. Visible redness, swelling or plaques can narrow down the cause of the swallowing difficulties. If necessary, a swab or a look down the deep throat can provide more detailed information about the cause of the difficulty swallowing. Attention should be paid to swellings that could worsen the swallowing difficulties or even result in choking. Clarification is particularly useful in cases of prolonged swallowing difficulties. Panendoscopy under anesthesia may be necessary.
Complications
Complications that can occur with dysphagia include feeding. If the underlying condition is not treated, it can lead to severely decreased fluid and food intake by the affected individual. This in turn is accompanied by unwanted weight loss. Particularly in older people, appetite is increasingly diminished. Swallowing difficulties can therefore lead to a complete refusal to eat.Not infrequently, this is followed by a deterioration of the general condition due to insufficient absorption of vital substances. On the other hand, swallowing of the ingested food can occur during the act of swallowing. Inhalation of liquid and food particles results in aspiration pneumonia, i.e. pneumonia due to stomach contents in the lungs, in bad cases. Other complications can include earaches and sore throats. This is due to the cartilaginous tube that leads from the throat to the ear. By swallowing, humans equalize pressure between these areas, among other things. If, on the other hand, the swallowing activity is disturbed, the pressure on the ears can lead to pain in the entire head area – similar to what happens with a severe cold. In this case, the canal responsible is often swollen and pressure cannot be equalized. On top of that, viruses and bacteria can settle in the ear. Inflammations are the result.
When should you go to the doctor?
Difficulty swallowing is a case for the doctor only if it either has an unclear cause, lasts for a very long time or is so severe that it massively hinders the absorption of fluids and food. Most people experience more or less severe swallowing difficulties during a cold. They are normal and can be easily overcome with herbal teas and throat lozenges as well as oily food. If such an infection lasts longer than usual or worsens within a short time, it is advisable to consult a doctor. He or she can determine the type of germs that triggered the infection and initiate the correct treatment. In the case of children, the doctor should be consulted sooner rather than later, because their immune system is weaker than that of an adult. If, on the other hand, swallowing difficulties occur without an infection being present, the cause must be determined by a doctor. In these cases, we are usually talking about the so-called “globus sensation”. The affected person has the feeling that there is a foreign body in the throat that makes swallowing unpleasant or even leads to frequent swallowing. The reason for this may actually be an enlargement of surrounding organs such as the thyroid gland. Other organs or, in the worst case, tumors may also be behind swallowing difficulties without sore throat. The diagnosis must be made by a physician.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of swallowing problems is usually the responsibility of the ear, nose and throat specialist. In cases of cold-related swallowing problems, most people are familiar with home remedies that help relieve the symptoms. However, if the swallowing problems are psychological, it is necessary to get to the bottom of the causes. This type of swallowing disorder will see improvement after talk therapy or behavioral therapy. Thyroid disorders with swallowing difficulties must be treated internally, and sometimes surgery is necessary. Most types of dysphagia can be treated with medication or surgery. Difficulty swallowing caused by wasp stings requires urgent emergency medical care because of the risk of choking due to severe swelling or allergic reactions.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, swallowing difficulties do not need to be treated by a physician and disappear on their own. They often occur during a cold or the flu, and are a common symptom in these cases. The swallowing problems disappear after a few days and do not lead to further discomfort or complications. However, if the swallowing problems persist for a long time and are associated with severe pain, a doctor must be consulted in any case. In these cases, it may be a case of tonsillitis, for example, which must be treated by a doctor in any case. Due to the difficulty in swallowing, ordinary intake of food and liquids is no longer possible. However, the patient should still try to eat and drink plenty to maintain bodily functions. Tonsillitis can be treated relatively well and likewise does not lead to further discomfort. Surgery might be necessary to remove the tonsils. Especially children often suffer from swallowing difficulties, because the tonsils are not fully grown. This discomfort is just as common. The affected person can drink tea or take candies for the throat against the difficulty in swallowing. Likewise, milk and honey help against the difficulty in swallowing and lead to a positive course of the disease.
Prevention
As preventive measures against swallowing problems, you can protect yourself from colds and always keep your drinks covered in the summer. Drinks that are too hot can be avoided. Children can be protected from swallowing problems caused by burns and burns in the mouth by parental caution. However, there is little that can be done preventively against thyroid disease, vocal cord problems or cysts in the throat. Goiter, oral thrush or Zenker diverticulum develop without one being actively involved.
This is what you can do yourself
A number of home remedies help with swallowing difficulties. Affected persons should generally take in sufficient fluids so that the mucous membranes remain moist and do not become inflamed further. The room climate can be improved with a humidifier and by regular ventilation. In addition, it is important to strengthen the immune system. A balanced diet with plenty of vitamin C and vitamin E helps with chronic dysphagia. Garlic, ginger and other plants with antibacterial and antiseptic properties are particularly effective. For swelling in the throat, zinc tablets and slippery elm bark help, as well as marshmallow root and echinacea, which are available in the form of tablets and drops. Warm milk with honey, a lemon cure or warm soups have also proven effective. Herbal teas made from thyme or sage can improve swallowing difficulties and are a suitable accompaniment to relaxation and bed rest. In cold weather, the throat should be protected by warm clothing and a scarf. Warm compresses help with inflammation of the throat. In the case of a cold, applications with common salt are recommended, among other things. Gargling with salt water removes salt from the mucous membranes and thus loosens the mucus responsible for the difficulty in swallowing.
