Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing)

Some of the common causes of odynophagia include:

1. Infections

Infections involving the tonsils, throat, epiglottis and oesophagus may cause pain on swallowing.

Some of these infections include:

1. Acute viral/bacterial pharyngitis
2. Acute tonsillitis
3. Oral and oesophageal candidiasis
4. HIV infections
5. Herpes simplex infections

2. Tumours

Cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), tongue and oesophagus can also sometimes cause pain when swallowing.

3. Inflammation

Inflammation of the mouth, pharynx and oesophagus can sometimes occur when they are exposed to caustic substances.

These can sometimes be ingested substances (e.g. hot fluids, acidic substances). Medical conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also cause inflammation when these organs are are constantly exposed to acid reflux from the stomach.

4. Foreign Body

Foreign bodies (e.g. fish-bones) sometimes can get stuck when they are swallowed. They can lodge in the tonsils, throat or oesophagus and cause pain on swallowing.

5. Oesophageal Disorders

Sometimes, pain on swallowing can be due to a disorder in the motility of the oesophagus. These include:

1. Oesophageal spasm
2. Achalasia
3. Nutcracker Oesophagus