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Swallowing – Physiology, Disorders, Diagnosis and Therapy pp 141–160Cite as

Medical Management of Swallowing Disorders

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Abstract

Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing is a problem in all age groups but more so in the elderly. It can be either primarily oropharyngeal or esophageal in origin. Patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia can present with symptoms of coughing or choking with swallowing, food sticking in throat, drooling, nasal regurgitation, weight loss, and episodes of recurrent pneumonia. Esophageal dysphagia can lead to sensation of food sticking in chest, oral or pharyngeal regurgitation, food sticking in throat, drooling, and weight loss [1]. Elderly population with dysphagia has a higher risk of malnutrition, nonhealing wounds, bed sores, and aspiration pneumonia. This is especially common in patients with dysphagia due to neurological diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, or brain injury. A study using Subjective Global Assessment to assess nutritional status found that 16 % of patients with dysphagia related to brain disorders had concomitant malnutrition whereas 22 % of patients with neurodegenerative diseases had associated malnutrition [2].

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  1. Internal Medicine and Intensive Care, PD Hinduja National Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai, 400016, India

    Simran Singh

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Correspondence to Simran Singh .

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  1. ENT, PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Gauri Mankekar

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Singh, S. (2015). Medical Management of Swallowing Disorders. In: Mankekar, G. (eds) Swallowing – Physiology, Disorders, Diagnosis and Therapy. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2419-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2419-8_8

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  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2418-1

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