Esophagitis (uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis) is inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach. Show
Esophagitis can cause painful, difficult swallowing and chest pain. Many different things can cause esophagitis. Some common causes include stomach acids backing up into the esophagus, infection, oral medicines and allergies. Treatment for esophagitis depends on the underlying cause and how badly the tissue lining the esophagus is damaged. If left untreated, esophagitis can damage this lining and interfere with its function, which is to move food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis also can lead to complications such as scarring or narrowing of the esophagus, unintended weight loss and dehydration. Products & Services
SymptomsCommon symptoms of esophagitis include:
In infants and young children, particularly those too young to explain their discomfort or pain, symptoms of esophagitis may include:
When to see a doctorMost symptoms of esophagitis can be caused by a few different conditions affecting the digestive system. See your health care provider if symptoms:
Get emergency care if you:
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribingYour in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at [email protected]. The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food through the chest, from the mouth to the stomach. Normally you don't feel it except when you are swallowing. However, if the inside lining of your esophagus becomes inflamed, you may experience pain or problems with swallowing. This inflammation of the esophagus is called esophagitis. Esophagitis has several common causes:
Only a few types of infection are common in the esophagus, such as: Even in someone who already has a herpes infection in the mouth, it rarely spreads down to the esophagus if the immune system is normal.
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a special subtype of this condition. The diagnosis is based on biopsy samples of the esophagus that show a predominance of eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells that the body may produce in response to inflammation or an allergic reaction. The main symptoms of esophagitis are:
DiagnosisThe diagnosis often is made based on your symptoms. The most accurate way to check for esophagitis is for a doctor to look directly at the inside of the esophagus with a video camera called an endoscope. The endoscope has a camera at the end of a flexible, plastic-coated cord. This tube is long enough to reach through the stomach to the first portion of the intestine (duodenum). The procedure is sometimes called esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD. Using the endoscope, the doctor can see evidence of injury from esophagitis. The doctor will look for areas where the lining of the esophagus has worn away (called erosions or ulcers), blisters or scarred areas. Some infections leave a deposit on the esophagus walls that can be sampled through the endoscope by using a remote-controlled brush. In some cases the doctor will biopsy the esophagus by snipping a small sample of the inside lining through the end of the endoscope. This tissue is examined under a microscope. Since esophagitis is only one of the things that can cause symptoms of chest pain or swallowing problems, your doctor may order other tests to evaluate your heart, lungs or digestive tract. Expected DurationHow long symptoms last depends on how easily their cause can be eliminated. Bad cases of reflux or resistant viruses, for example, might require several tries before the right medicine or treatment is found. In most cases, symptoms begin to improve within a few days of starting the right treatment. But it can take weeks for symptoms to go away completely. Esophagitis from an infection may be harder to cure if the immune system is severely weakened. PreventionThe most common cause of esophagitis, acid reflux, sometimes can be prevented by some very simple measures:
If you have heartburn despite these measures, your doctor may suggest you take a preventative acid-blocking medicine. All prescription and nonprescription pills should be taken while you are upright and should be swallowed with water. This is especially important for the medicines that frequently cause esophagitis. Treatment depends on the cause of esophagitis.
Acid blocking medications, including H2-blockers and proton-pump inhibitors, are usually prescribed. For persistent esophagitis, your doctor may recommend surgery to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter.
While your esophagus is recovering, your doctor can ease your pain symptoms by prescribing pain relievers. When To Call A ProfessionalIf you are unable to eat or drink due to pain during swallowing, you should contact your doctor. Life-threatening dehydration can develop quickly if you cannot drink liquids. Occasionally an injured esophagus can develop a hole, causing sudden worsening of chest pain, shortness of breath or fever. Report these symptoms to your doctor immediately. If your symptoms do not clear up with initial treatment, consult your doctor. Occasionally, scarring in the esophagus will cause persistent swallowing difficulty that might require dilation therapy done through the endoscope. PrognosisAlmost all cases of esophagitis can be cured. Some causes, such as acid reflux, may require long-term treatment. Additional InfoAmerican College of Gastroenterology American Gastroenterological Association Learn more about EsophagitisTreatment optionsCare guidesFurther informationAlways consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. How do I stop my chest from hurting when I swallow?Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can reduce swelling and inflammation in the mouth, throat, and food pipe, making it easier and less painful to swallow. Taking antacids. Over-the-counter (OTC) antacids are effective for reducing pain that results from acid reflux. Using throat sprays.
How long does pill induced esophagitis last?Two hours later, they develop a rapidly increasing severity of chest pain. This pain may be continuous and is often exacerbated by swallowing. It lasts a few days and gets better gradually. In more severe cases, patients may not be able to eat for a period of time.
Is pill induced esophagitis serious?Drug-induced esophagitis can be self-limiting esophagitis, but if persistent, then it can lead to complications such as severe ulceration, strictures, and rarely even perforation.
What to do when a pill is stuck in your chest?If a pill does get stuck, never let it stay there to dissolve. Many medicine will irritate your throat. A glass of water should free even the stickiest capsule. Eating some food after swallowing a pill makes sure that it goes down.
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