Difficulty is swallowing or dysphagia should be evaluated properly. It can be due to inflammation of the food-pipe, ulcers or acid reflux. Eosinophilic esophagitis is an allergic condition of the food-pipe that causes dysphagia in young people.

In older adults, cancer of the food-pipe can cause difficulty in swallowing. Disorders of the muscle of the food-pipe called esophageal motility disorders also cause dysphagia. Investigations for dysphagia include upper endoscopy, barium swallow and esophageal manometry.