Odynophagia is pain when swallowing.^[1][2] The pain may be felt in the mouth or throat and can occur with or without difficulty swallowing.^[3] The pain may be described as an ache, burning sensation, or occasionally a stabbing pain that radiates to the back.^[4] Odynophagia often results in inadvertent weight loss. The term is from odyno- 'pain' and phagō 'to eat'.

Causes

Odynophagia may have environmental or behavioral causes, such as:

• Very hot or cold food and drinks (termed cryodynophagia when associated with cold drinks, classically in the setting of cryoglobulinaemia).
• Taking certain medications
• Using drugs, tobacco, or alcohol^[3]
• Trauma or injury to the mouth, throat, or tongue^[5]

It can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as:

• Ulcers
• Abscesses
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Inflammation or infection of the mouth, tongue, or throat (esophagitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, epiglottitis)^[6]
• Oral or throat cancer^[7]