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18 years
Does my friends mom have a disease? She has trouble swallowing and swallows in between words.
Dec 17, 2014

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
The esophagus (the swallowing tube that connects the throat to the stomach) could be the source of the problem. In this case, the symptoms fall under an entity known as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing, +/- odynophagia, or pain upon swallowing): could be secondary to a neurological problem, a muscular disorder, or disease of the esophagus that causes impairment in the motility or mechanical obstruction of the esophagus (whether from inside the esophagus itself, or something from outside impinging on it). Commonly, it is due to esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus induced by acid refluxing from the stomach, usually associated with heartburn and indigestion). Specific concerns include whether difficulty swallowing includes solids, liquids, or both; whether food comes out the nose; whether there is drool or food spills from the mouth; and whether cough or choke occur while eating. 
Medical attention to rule out serious underlying causes is necessary.
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