Parents often hear: “Food is stuck,” “I can’t swallow,” or “Something is in my throat.” These can mean very different things.

This guide helps you tell the difference between:

  • Choking (airway problem) — can be life-threatening
  • Dysphagia (esophagus problem) — food sticks in the chest
  • Globus (sensation in throat) — often stress/reflux-related

1) Choking (airway problem) — emergency signs

Choking involves the airway, not the swallowing tube.

Emergency signs:

  • Cannot breathe or speak
  • Blue lips, severe distress
  • High-pitched noisy breathing
  • Persistent coughing with inability to clear
  • Sudden onset while eating (especially small round foods)

If your child has trouble breathing: seek emergency care immediately.

2) Dysphagia (esophagus problem): “food stuck in the chest”

Typical clues:

  • Points to middle of chest
  • Needs water to push food down
  • Avoids meat/bread/rice
  • Eats slowly, chews excessively
  • Recurrent “stuck” episodes

Important causes include:

  • Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
  • Narrowing/stricture/rings
  • Reflux-related inflammation

Repeated dysphagia episodes should be evaluated.

3) Globus sensation: “lump in throat” feeling

Globus is usually:

  • A sensation in the throat
  • Often not linked to meals
  • Swallowing is still possible
  • Can fluctuate with stress or anxiety
  • Can be associated with reflux or postnasal drip

Red flags with throat symptoms:

  • True progressive swallowing difficulty
  • Weight loss
  • Persistent voice change
  • Persistent pain with swallowing

4) When is “food stuck” an emergency?

Emergency if:

  • Drooling / cannot swallow saliva
  • Cannot drink liquids
  • Significant distress
  • Breathing problems
  • Suspected button battery or sharp object

Quick summary

  • Choking = airway emergency.
  • Dysphagia = food sticking in the chest, often needs evaluation (EoE is common).
  • Globus = throat sensation, often benign but needs assessment if red flags exist.