Odynophagia is the symptom characterized by pain when swallowing, the act of swallowing food or one’s own saliva. It can be very annoying on a daily basis, and is a symptom of many digestive disorders, indigestion, or infections of the digestive tract. It sometimes accompanies tonsillitis. This symptom alone is not sufficient to seek medical attention, but should be taken seriously if it is accompanied by other ailments.

Odynophagia refers to the pain felt when swallowing, when swallowing food or liquid, in the esophagus. The pain is not necessarily very strong, but is very bothersome for the patients. 

Not to be confused with dysphagia, having trouble swallowing food (not necessarily accompanied by pain).

The distinction is important: do you have difficulty swallowing (with discomfort when the food progresses) or pain but without any feeling of hindrance when you swallow something?

Odynophagia comes from the combination of Greek terms odunê (For pain) and phagein (in the sense of eat, swallow).

The esophagus is located between the throat and our stomach. This tube is therefore the first stage of the digestive system, it is through there that all the food and liquids that we ingest pass. Pain occurs when swallowing saliva, or when passing food.

Risk factors

Odynophagia is not a risk in itself, but is a symptom of another disease present in the patient. This ranges from indigestion to infection or inflammation of the esophagus. In these cases, it will be necessary to treat the cause of odynophagia as soon as possible and not to hesitate to consult a doctor.

Angina

In a sore throat, the pharynx is inflamed. However, the pharynx is located at the entrance to the throat, and its inflammation can spill over into the esophagus. Angina acute is therefore accompanied by odynophagia.

Indigestion

Poorly digested food, indigestion, can be characterized by odynophagia. However, it alone is not sufficient to define indigestion. It is most often accompanied by other disorders: fatigue and shortness of breath, sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea.

Bad to swallow

Dysphagia, the “trouble swallowing” food, is often accompanied by odynophagia, pain when swallowing.

Esophageal infection

Infections located in the esophagus are very difficult to manage given the essential role of the digestive tract. They mainly appear following other infections that weaken the body’s immune defenses. There are several types:

• Invasive candidiasis

  This infection is caused by the invasive space of the Candida and can affect the esophagus. The patient will complain of odynophagia in most cases. It is treated with antifungals.

• Mononucleosis, a viral disease, is accompanied by tonsillitis.

Inflammation of the esophagus

Esophagitis, the inflammation of the esophagus, is also characterized by pain on swallowing, odynophagia. This inflammation may be accompanied by more or less significant bleeding: in this case the patient may vomit red or black blood (if hemorrhage is important). 

This inflammation can occur as a result of severe gastric reflux (vomiting).

Odynophagia begins with a simple pain on swallowing that one barely feels, before becoming clearly identifiable and bothersome for the patient. 

Odynophagia alone is not sufficient to diagnose infection or inflammation. On the other hand, it can be coupled with other symptoms: fatigue, excessive sweating, cough, haemorrhages of the esophagus… These symptoms are as many signs which together show the presence of infections or inflammations of the esophagus, which will amplify in back pain, as when regurgitating blood or bile.

Treat your indigestion

Indigestion can be treated after consultation with a doctor. Treatment consists of antacid drugs, or gastrointestinal muscle aids to aid digestion.

In case of infection

In the case of candidiasis infection, the disease is treated with antifungals. This treatment will reduce the infection, and in turn the odynophagia symptom will go away.

Consult the doctor

This is the solution if the pain persists, or if other symptoms appear.