Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. It is sometimes discussed as a condition with its own symptoms, , and sometimes discussed as a symptom of other conditions. It is classified under "symptoms and signs" in ICD-10. Patients are sometimes unaware of their dysphagia.
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. Dysphagia is distinguished from other symptoms including odynophagia, which is defined as painful swallowing, and globus, which is the sensation of a lump in the throat. A psychogenic dysphagia is known as phagophobia.
It is also worthwhile to refer to the physiology of swallowing in understanding dysphagia.
