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Odynophagia is pain when swallowing due to throat irritation

Question asked:

“Odynophagia is the sensation of pain during swallowing, occurring when the tissues lining the throat or esophagus become irritated or inflamed.”
True
Confidence: High Checked on September 17, 2026

Summary

Odynophagia is defined as pain experienced while swallowing, caused by irritation or inflammation of the tissues lining the throat or esophagus. This definition is consistently reported across medical references.

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Sources 59 searched

sciencedirect.com
  • Odynophagia - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

    Like dysphagia, odynophagia, or painful swallowing, is specific for esophageal involvement. Odynophagia may range from a dull retrosternal ache on swallowing to a stabbing pain with radiation to the back so severe that the patient cannot eat or even swallow his or her own saliva.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
healthline.com
  • Odynophagia: Symptoms, Treatment, Causes and More

    Dysphagia and odynophagia may occur at the same time. They can also have the same underlying causes. However, you might have swallowing difficulties without any pain. If this is the case, you likely have dysphagia only.

my.clevelandclinic.org
wikidoc.org
  • Odynophagia overview - wikidoc

    Common causes of odynophagia are throat infections, foreign body, acid reflux disease, tumors, or injuries which may lead to difficulty in swallowing due to disturbing pain. Odynphagia is a word with Greek origin. There is no established system for the classification of odynophagia.

en.wikipedia.org
  • Odynophagia - Wikipedia

    Odynophagia is pain when swallowing. The pain may be felt in the mouth or throat and can occur with or without difficulty swallowing. The pain may be described as an ache, burning sensation, or occasionally a stabbing pain that radiates to the back. Odynophagia often results in inadvertent ...

yalemedicine.org

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