What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. It can be difficulty swallowing food, liquids or even saliva.

Children of all ages can have difficulty swallowing.

What causes dysphagia?

Difficulty swallowing is most often caused by a sore throat. The sore throat might be caused by infections including colds, glandular fever, mouth infection, tonsillitis or mouth ulcers.

Other causes of difficulty swallowing include:

• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which can cause inflammation
• insect bites and other allergic reactions, which can cause airway swelling
• poisoning
• foreign objects in the airways or the oesophagus
• medical conditions like cerebral palsy, which can affect the nerves or muscles needed for swallowing
• problems in the oesophagus, like scarring, or pressure on the oesophagus inside the chest
• large tonsils and adenoids
• teething.

What causes dysphagia in babies?

For babies, a common cause of difficulty swallowing is a cold that’s causing a blocked nose. Babies need to breathe through their noses while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and a blocked nose makes it hard for them to swallow.

What to do if your child is having difficulty swallowing

Go to a hospital emergency department straight away if your child:

• has swallowed or breathed in a foreign object
• can’t swallow anything at all, including their own saliva
• is having trouble breathing
• might have been bitten by an insect.

You should take your child to the GP if your child is having difficulty swallowing and they have a fever and seem unwell.

If your child is having significant trouble breathing, seek medical help immediately. Go straight to your nearest hospital emergency department, or call an ambulance by dialling 000. If you think your child has swallowed poison, call the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126.

How is dysphagia diagnosed?

If a doctor thinks there might be a serious medical issue causing your child’s difficulty swallowing, the doctor might ask for some special tests. These could include an X-ray, an endoscopy, blood tests or an assessment by a speech pathologist.

How do you treat dysphagia?

Treatment for dysphagia depends on what’s causing the difficulty swallowing.

Sore throat

If your child has difficulty swallowing because of a sore throat or ulcers, offer your child regular, small sips of water. It’s best to avoid giving your child spicy or sour foods.

Paracetamol or ibuprofen in recommended doses might help if it hurts when your child tries to swallow.

Bacterial infection

If the sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your child might need antibiotics. Your GP will let you know.

Blocked nose

If your child has a blocked nose, you can try giving them saline nasal drops or spray. Check with a pharmacist about an appropriate product for your child.

Frequently asked questions about dysphagia

Can anxiety cause problems swallowing?

Yes. Anxiety can give the feeling of something being stuck in the throat, but the person can still swallow.

Does speech therapy help with difficulty swallowing?

Yes. Speech pathologists are trained to help with difficulty swallowing. A speech pathologist can work out where the difficulty is happening in your child’s body and what foods are causing problems. If your child sees a speech pathologist for difficulty swallowing, the speech pathologist will watch your child eating and drinking. They might also order additional tests like an endoscopy or x-ray.

Why is my child finding it difficult to swallow saliva?

The causes of dysphagia can make it difficult for your child to swallow saliva as well as other things.

Children under 2 years might drool instead of swallowing because the muscles around their mouth and the ones used for swallowing are still developing.

It’s also common to drool instead of swallowing when we’re asleep and our muscles relax.