When a person has difficulty swallowing, it is most often because they have a sore throat. If your child has difficulty swallowing anything, or if they have had an insect bite, or if they have a fever, then they should see a doctor. The treatment for difficulty swallowing depends on what is causing the problem.
If your child has difficulty swallowing, it is most likely because of a sore throat. A sore throat can be caused by many things, like a cold, glandular fever, mouth infection or mouth ulcers.
Babies can have difficulty swallowing if they have a cold that's causing a blocked nose. Blocked noses make it hard for babies to breathe and swallow at the same time. Babies need to breathe through their noses while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
Very occasionally a serious underlying condition might cause difficulty swallowing – for example, if there is a weakness of the muscle between the oesophagus and the stomach.
Some children with medical conditions like cerebral palsy might have difficulty swallowing and might need to see a specialist for treatment. The medical term for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia.
If your child has difficulty swallowing, you should take her to the doctor. Difficulty swallowing can be caused by different things, like not being able to swallow saliva or having a fever. If your child can't breathe, seek medical help immediately by going to the hospital or calling an ambulance. If you think your child swallowed something poisonous, call the poison control center.
If your child has any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with her doctor:
-Choking or coughing when trying to swallow
-Drooling more than usual
-Frequent gagging or vomiting
-Crying or refusing to eat or drink
-Weight loss
-Wet burps or hiccups
-Heartburn that doesn't go away with antacids
Difficulty swallowing can be caused by a sore throat. If this is the case, your child will not need any tests.
However, if your doctor thinks that there might be a more serious medical issue causing your child's difficulty swallowing, the doctor might ask for some special tests. These could include imaging, blood tests or an assessment by a speech pathologist.
The way to treat difficulty swallowing depends on what is causing the problem. For example, if a child has an infection, the doctor might give them antibiotics. If your child has difficulty swallowing because of a sore throat, infection or ulcers, you should avoid giving them spicy or sour foods. Instead, offer regular small sips of water. If your child has a blocked nose, you can try some normal saline nasal drops or spray. Sometimes painkillers in recommended doses can help if a child is in pain when they try to swallow.
