What Causes Odynophagia?

Common Cold

The vast majority of the time, odynophagia can be blamed on the common cold. Millions of individuals get sick with colds each year; in fact, it is typical to have a cold two or three times a year. A sore throat is often the first symptom, and the pain of one usually gets worse when swallowing. The common cold can be caused by a variety of different viruses. These viruses infect the upper respiratory system until the immune system can fight them off, which usually takes about a week. Odynophagia caused by a cold virus is usually temporary, and it is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose. Odynophagia that is persistent and chronic may have a more serious cause.