[Dietetic management of patients with impaired swallowing]

Swallowing deficits may be present in patients with neurological, otolaryngoiatric or internal medicine diseases. These deficits impair their feeding capability, thus inducing malnutrition. Diet therapy in these conditions involves specific instructions for properly choosing, handling and eating food, in order to allow patients to preserve their autonomy and safety while eating, thus preventing malnutrition. We refer paradigmatically to patients with Huntington disease, which is the main neurologic cause of swallowing deficits, although these guidelines may be conveniently extended to other patients with impaired transit of food.