Pain when swallowing is commonly experienced by everyone, regardless of age. Many causes that allow the pain when you swallow. However, often this condition is caused by inflammation or infection in the throat. Some diseases that can cause pain when swallowing are colds, chronic coughs, inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis), ulcers or sores on the throat, stomach acid that rises into the esophagus (stomach acid reflux) and infection or inflammation of the throat. Complaints of pain when swallowing is often considered the same as difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), even though these two things are actually different. Difficulty swallowing is not always caused by pain. The process of swallowing involves various muscles and nerves in the body, including the mouth, throat, esophagus to the stomach. When there is damage or a medical condition that interferes with that part of the body, then pain when swallowing can occur. Medicine for Treating Pain when Swallowing Medications