What is odynophagia and what causes it?

There are two types of swallowing problems. Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia. Painful swallowing is called odynophagia. With odynophagia, you feel pain or a burning sensation in the throat or esophagus when you swallow. It can be caused by many factors, such as esophagitis, GERD, esophageal dysmotility, and infections. Some medications, such as the antibiotic doxycycline, can also cause irritation that makes swallowing painful.