Your swallowing difficulty may be caused by a viral infection, and it is likely to go away on its own after a few days.
In rare cases, a throat infection can involve a throat abscess (pocket of pus) or inflammation of the epiglottis, a structure in the throat. If either of these problems occurs, it is an emergency because you may develop difficulty with your breathing. Seek immediate care from your doctor if you have difficulty with your breathing, or if you are having difficulty swallowing your saliva.
To learn about other causes of difficulty swallowing, please continue.