Mohammad F. El-Baba, MD, 2016. "Dysphagia (Chapter 142)", American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care, Thomas K. McInerny, MD, FAAP, Henry M. Adam, MD, FAAP, Deborah E. Campbell, MD, FAAP, Thomas G. DeWitt, MD, FAAP, Jane Meschan Foy, MD, FAAP, Deepak M. Kamat, MD, PhD, FAAP, Rebecca Baum, MD, FAAP, Kelly J. Kelleher, MD, MPH, FAAP
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Feeding and swallowing disorders are common complaints in children. Dysphagia is defined as difficulty swallowing, which derives from the Greek root, dys, meaning “difficulty,” and phagia, meaning “to eat.” It is not synonymous with the term odynophagia, which refers to painful swallowing.
A sucking reflex, present as early as 18 weeks’ gestation, is initially disorganized but becomes more organized and efficient for feeding by 34 to 36 weeks’ gestation. For the term newborn the suck is mature and efficient for liquid feedings.1,2 During early infancy, the infant develops a more rapid suck rate and...