Dysphagia (, not to be confused with dysphasia) is a medical term defined as "difficulty swallowing". It derives from the Greek root dys meaning difficulty or disordered, and phagia meaning "to eat". It is a sensation that suggests difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the stomach Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 7th edition, Chapter 6, p. 63 . Dysphagia is distinguised from similar symptoms including odynophagia, which is defined as painful swallowing, and globus, which is the sensation of a lump in the throat. It is also worthwhile to refer to the physiology of swallowing in understanding dysphagia.

Epidemiology and diagnostic approach

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Dysphagia is a common complaint, and the incidence of dysphagia is higher in the elderly Shamburek RD; Farrar JT. Disorders of the digestive system in the elderly. N Engl J Med 1990 Feb 15;322(7):438-43. , in patients who have had strokes Martino R, Foley N, Bhogal S, Diamant N, Speechley M, Teasell R. Dysphagia after stroke: incidence, diagnosis, and pulmonary complications. Stroke. 2005 Dec;36(12):2756-63. Epub 2005 Nov 3. , and in patients who are admitted to acute care hospitals or chronic care facilities. It is a symptom whose cause can usually be elicited by a careful history by the treating physician Schatzki R. Panel discussion on diseases of the esophagus. Am J Gastro. 31:117 (1959). .

Dysphagia is classified into two major types: oropharyngeal dysphagia (or transfer dysphagia) and esophageal dysphagia. In some patients, no organic cause for dysphagia can be found, and these patients are defined as having functional dysphagia.

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