Difficult or painful swallowing

Conditions

• Achalasia
• Diphtheria
• Nasopharyngeal cancer
• Oesophageal Cancer
• Sore throat
• Systemic sclerosis
• Tonsillitis

Achalasia

Achalasia means that your gullet has lost its ability to move food along and the valve at the end of your gullet fails to open to allow food to pass into your stomach.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Food sticks on swallowing
• Burning pain in chest or upper abdomen
• Continuous, unexplained weight loss
• Chest pain

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Achalasia.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose and throat.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• High temperature
• Sore throat
• White spots on tonsils
• Shivering or rigors
• Difficulty speaking

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Diphtheria.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal cancer is cancer that affects the nasopharynx.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Nose bleeding
• Swollen glands in neck
• Difficulty speaking
• Swollen neck
• Hearing loss in one ear

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Nasopharyngeal cancer.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Oesophageal Cancer

Cancer of the oesophagus, also known as oesophageal cancer, is an uncommon but serious type of cancer that affects the oesophagus (gullet).

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Food sticks on swallowing
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Feeling sick or nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Burning pain in chest or upper abdomen

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Oesophageal Cancer.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Sore throat

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Sore throat
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Dry cough
• Difficulty speaking

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Sore throat.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Systemic sclerosis

Scleroderma is an uncommon disease that results in hard, thickened areas of skin and sometimes problems with internal organs and blood vessels.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Bloated stomach
• Swelling of more than one joint
• Shortness of breath
• Burning pain in chest or upper abdomen
• Thickened patch of skin

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Systemic sclerosis.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils.

Symptoms of this condition may include:

• Sore throat
• White spots on tonsils
• Difficulty speaking
• Unusually tired
• High temperature

Our Health A-Z contains more information on Tonsillitis.

If you are worried about this condition you can try our free AI Symptom Checker here.