Dysphagia natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Feham Tariq, MD [2], Hamid Qazi, MD, BSc [3]

Overview

If left untreated, dysphagia can potentially cause aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, or dehydration. Common complications of dysphagia include aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration. Prognosis of dysphagia is dependent on the underlying disease. However, prognosis is generally regarded as good.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

The symptoms of dysphagia usually develop in any decade of life, and start with symptoms such as difficulty eating solids or drinking fluids. If left untreated, dysphagia can potentially cause aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, or dehydration.^[1]^[2]

Complications

Common complications of dysphagia include:

Prognosis

Depending on the extent of the disease causing dysphagia at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary. However, the prognosis is generally regarded as good.

References

↑ Philpott, Hamish; Garg, Mayur; Tomic, Dunya; Balasubramanian, Smrithya; Sweis, Rami (2017). “Dysphagia: Thinking outside the box”. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 23 (38): 6942–6951. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i38.6942. ISSN 1007-9327.
↑ Cho, S. Y.; Choung, R. S.; Saito, Y. A.; Schleck, C. D.; Zinsmeister, A. R.; Locke, G. R.; Talley, N. J. (2015). “Prevalence and risk factors for dysphagia: a USA community study”. Neurogastroenterology & Motility. 27 (2): 212–219. doi:10.1111/nmo.12467. ISSN 1350-1925.

Template:WH Template:WS

[PhilpottGarg2017-1] Philpott, Hamish; Garg, Mayur; Tomic, Dunya; Balasubramanian, Smrithya; Sweis, Rami (2017). “Dysphagia: Thinking outside the box”. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 23 (38): 6942–6951. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i38.6942. ISSN 1007-9327.

[ChoChoung2015-2] Cho, S. Y.; Choung, R. S.; Saito, Y. A.; Schleck, C. D.; Zinsmeister, A. R.; Locke, G. R.; Talley, N. J. (2015). “Prevalence and risk factors for dysphagia: a USA community study”. Neurogastroenterology & Motility. 27 (2): 212–219. doi:10.1111/nmo.12467. ISSN 1350-1925.

[1]

[2]