Swallowing pain or burning

Alternative names:

burning feeling when swallowing; odynophagia; pain or burning when swallowing

Definition:

A strong feeling of burning, squeezing pain while swallowing.

Considerations:

The opening and closing of various parts of the throat is affected by both nerves and muscles.

Swallowing pain may be constant or intermittent.

Common causes:

• irritation of the mucous membranes including chemical irritation
• a muscle problem of the esophagus (reflux esophagitis)
• a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection (esophagitis candida for example)
• a tumor
• foreign body (such as fish or poultry bones)
• esophageal spasm

Note: There may be other causes of swallowing pain. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for swallowing pain, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.