**6. Clinical signs and symptoms**

Patients present with dysphagia due to alteration in swallowing mechanisms that include [25]:


As a result of dysphagia, patients may develop other symptoms that may include:


Persistent & severe dysphagia may result in weight loss, dehydration, risk of aspiration pneumonia, chronic lung disease and psychological problems [40].

The presence of long-standing dysphagia should raise the suspicion of esophageal perforation and thus be adamantly investigated.
