Отчеты о заболеваниях полости рта

Dysphagia: A Symptom Not a Disease

Abstract

Vidya K Lohe* and Ravindra P Kadu

Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing food semi-solid or solid, liquid, or both. There are many disorder conditions predisposing to dysphagia such as mechanical strokes or esophageal diseases even if neurological diseases represent the principal one. Cerebrovascular pathology is today the leading cause of death in developing countries, and it occurs most frequently in individuals who are at least 60 years old. Patients with dysphagia may walk into dental clinic and because dysphagia is a symptom not a disease, it is a practicing dentist’s duty to recognize the underlying cause and then take treatment decisions. Among the most frequent complications of dysphagia are increased mortality and aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, malnutrition, and long-term hospitalization. This review article discusses the pathophysiology, classification, evaluation, investigations and treatment modalities of dysphagia