ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Esophagitis

What is esophagitis?

4 May 2021

When the esophagus becomes inflamed, we are faced with esophagitis, an inflammatory process that can injure the esophagus muscles, causing pain and swallowing problems, the most frequent causes being gastroesophageal reflux, allergic reactions, infections, and oral drug intake.

To treat esophagitis, it is necessary to know its origin and quantify the tissue damage, hindering its function of allowing the passage of food and drinks to the stomach.

Types of esophagitis:

  • For gastroesophageal reflux: when stomach acid returns to the esophagus.
  • Due to infection: whether by a virus, bacteria, or fungus, it attacks those who have a weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment.
  • Eosinophilic: it is due to an allergic reaction that causes the presence of eosinophils, which are white blood cells that appear before allergens.
  • Lymphocytic: the presence of lymphocytes in the esophageal tissue, either by reflux or by eosinophils.
  • Pharmacological: caused by the intake of medications that injure the esophageal tissues such as painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories, among others.

Signs and symptoms Esophagitis

  • Food that remains in the esophagus due to obstruction.
  • Heartburn.
  • Regurgitation.
  • Swallowing problems.
  • Esophageal pain when eating food.
  • Chest pain.

If you experience some of these symptoms and they persist or worsen after several days, see your doctor to identify their direct cause.

If not diagnosed and treated promptly, esophagitis alters the morphology and physiology of the esophagus, producing several serious complications, such as:

  • Scarring of the tissue, hindering the passage of food.
  • Narrowing of the esophagus.
  • Tissue tear.
  • Cellular alteration known as Barrett’s esophagus, a risk condition for the development of esophageal cancer.

Diagnosis and treatment Esophagitis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination, in addition to requesting a series of tests such as endoscopy, barium X-ray, biopsies, and blood tests, to identify its origin.

The treatment will depend on the direct cause, but the aim is to control the symptoms and avoid serious complications, for which the following medications are used:

  • Antacids.
  • H-2 receptor blockers.
  • Proton-pump inhibitor.

Likewise, a diet that favors gastric alkalinity and avoids irritants and fats will be established, but if drugs and diet do not work, an esophageal fundoplication may be chosen, which is a surgical procedure that strengthens the inner esophageal sphincter to prevent stomach acids from flowing back up into the esophagus.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Esophagitis

Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • topdoctors.es
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Riggioni BV, Gómez HC, Alfaro HJC. Eosinophilic esophagitis: natural history, diagnosis and treatment. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(08):1-11.
  • Umaña BCA, Rodríguez NGF, Camacho BFA. Esofagitis eosinofílica. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(02):359-359.
  • Méndez-Tovar LJ, Rodríguez-Sánchez JF, Manzano-Gayosso P, et al. Esophageal candidiasis in patients from a specialty hospital. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2019;57(2):74-81.
  • Teramoto-Matsubara, Óscar; Galvis-García, Elymir S; Abdo-Francis, et al. La disfagia de corta evolución y su asociación con la esofagitis disecante y enfermedades concurrentes. Un reto diagnóstico. Cir Cir. 2019;87(5):572-579.

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