Symptom Checker

  • When to seek medical advice

  • Seek emergency care if there's something stuck in your throat and you:

    • Can't swallow
    • Have trouble breathingaa

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    symptom
  • Select related
    factors
  • View possible
    causes

Difficulty swallowing

Find possible causes of difficulty swallowing based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.

  • Hurts

  • Takes effort

  • Eating certain foods

  • Exposure to someone with an infectious illness

  • Long-term alcohol use

  • Long-term tobacco use

  • Bloody vomit or stools

  • Chest pain

  • Coughing

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Dry eyes

  • Dry mouth

  • Fever

  • Heartburn

  • Hoarse voice

  • Lump in front of neck

  • Mouth sores, lumps or pain

  • Neck swelling

  • Numbness, pain and color changes in fingers

  • Regurgitation of food or sour liquid

  • Sore throat

  • Swollen lymph glands

  • Thick saliva

  • Thick, hardened skin

  • Unintended weight loss

 

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