Dysphagia

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Dysphagia should not be confused with the similarly pronounced dysphasia, a language disorder.
Symptom/Sign: Dysphagia
Classifications and external resources
ICD-10 R13.
ICD-9 787.2
DiseasesDB 17942
MedlinePlus 003115
eMedicine pmr/194 
MeSH D003680

Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing.[1][2][3][4] Although classified under "symptoms and signs" in ICD-10,[5] the term is sometimes used as a condition in its own right.[6][7][8] Sufferers are sometimes unaware of their dysphagia.[9][10]

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.[11] Dysphagia is distinguished from other symptoms including odynophagia, which is defined as painful swallowing,[12] 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.

Contents

[edit] Epidemiology

Swallowing disorders can occur in all age groups, resulting from congenital abnormalities, structural damage, and/or medical conditions.[13] Swallowing problems are a common complaint among older individuals, and the incidence of dysphagia is higher in the elderly,[14] in patients who have had strokes,[15] and in patients who are admitted to acute care hospitals or chronic care facilities. Other causes of dysphagia include head and neck cancer and progressive neurologic diseases like Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Shy-Drager syndrome, or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dysphagia is a symptom of many different causes, which can usually be elicited by a careful history by the treating physician.[16] Some patients with swallowing disorders do not have dysphagia, so lack of the symptom does not exclude an underlying disease.[13] Like breathing, which is normally accomplished without any forethought, swallowing can become awkward merely through focusing too intently on the process (see anxiety).

Dysphagia is classified into two major types: oropharyngeal dysphagia (or transfer dysphagia) and esophageal dysphagia.[17] In some patients, no organic cause for dysphagia can be found, and these patients are defined as having functional dysphagia.

Each year, approximately ten million Americans are evaluated for swallowing disorders.[18]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup!. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ Smithard DG, Smeeton NC, Wolfe CD (2007). "Long-term outcome after stroke: does dysphagia matter?". Age Ageing 36 (1): 90–4. doi:10.1093/ageing/afl149. PMID 17172601. 
  3. ^ Brady A (2008). "Managing the patient with dysphagia". Home Healthc Nurse 26 (1): 41–6; quiz 47–8. doi:10.1097/01.NHH.0000305554.40220.6d. PMID 18158492. 
  4. ^ d_32/12318164 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  5. ^ ICD-10:. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  6. ^ Boczko F (2006). "Patients' awareness of symptoms of dysphagia". J Am Med Dir Assoc 7 (9): 587–90. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2006.08.002. PMID 17095424. 
  7. ^ Dysphagia at University of Virginia. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  8. ^ Swallowing Disorders - Symptoms of Dysphagia at New York University School of Medicine. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  9. ^ Parker C, Power M, Hamdy S, Bowen A, Tyrrell P, Thompson DG (2004). "Awareness of dysphagia by patients following stroke predicts swallowing performance". Dysphagia 19 (1): 28–35. doi:10.1007/s00455-003-0032-8. PMID 14745643. 
  10. ^ Rosenvinge SK, Starke ID (2005). "Improving care for patients with dysphagia". Age Ageing 34 (6): 587–93. doi:10.1093/ageing/afi187. PMID 16267184. 
  11. ^ Sleisenger, Marvin H.; Feldman, Mark; Friedman, Lawrence M. (2002). Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal & Liver Disease, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company, Chapter 6, p. 63. ISBN 0721600107. 
  12. ^ Dysphagia at University of Texas Medical Branch. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  13. ^ a b Logemann, Jeri A. (1998). Evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders. Austin, Tex: Pro-Ed. ISBN 0-89079-728-5. 
  14. ^ Shamburek RD, Farrar JT (1990). "Disorders of the digestive system in the elderly". N. Engl. J. Med. 322 (7): 438–43. PMID 2405269. 
  15. ^ Martino R, Foley N, Bhogal S, Diamant N, Speechley M, Teasell R (2005). "Dysphagia after stroke: incidence, diagnosis, and pulmonary complications". Stroke 36 (12): 2756–63. doi:10.1161/01.STR.0000190056.76543.eb. PMID 16269630. 
  16. ^ Ingelfinger FJ, Kramer P, Soutter L, Schatzki R (1959). "Panel discussion on diseases of the esophagus". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 31 (2): 117–31. PMID 13617241. 
  17. ^ Evaluating Dysphagia - June 15, 2000 - American Academy of Family Physicians. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  18. ^ eMedicine - Swallowing Disorders : Article by Segun T Dawodu. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.

[edit] External links

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Symptoms and signs: digestive system and abdomen (R10-R19, 787)
Abdominal and pelvic pain
Other