Oropharyngeal dysphagia

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (/ˌɔːroʊfəˈrɪndʒiːəl dɪsˈfeɪdʒiə/) is a medical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. The term is derived from the Greek words oros meaning mouth, pharynx meaning throat, and dysphagia meaning difficulty in swallowing.

Definition

Oropharyngeal dysphagia refers to problems with the oropharynx and esophagus that interfere with the safe and efficient passage of food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. This can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia may include difficulty in starting a swallow, choking or coughing during eating, a sensation of food being stuck in the throat or chest, unexplained weight loss, and recurrent pneumonia.

Causes

Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by a variety of conditions, including neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as structural abnormalities such as Zenker's diverticulum and cancer of the throat or esophagus.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia typically involves a thorough medical history, physical examination, and specialized tests such as a barium swallow or endoscopy.

Treatment

Treatment for oropharyngeal dysphagia depends on the underlying cause and may include dietary modifications, swallowing therapy, medications, and in some cases, surgery.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski