Esophagitis

What is Esophagitis

Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can cause soreness or pain in the esophagus. This condition can make it difficult and painful to swallow.

What are the causes?

Most causes of esophagitis are not serious. Common causes of this condition include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is when stomach contents move back up into the esophagus (reflux).
• Repeated vomiting.
• An allergic-type reaction, especially caused by food allergies (eosinophilic esophagitis).
• Injury to the esophagus by swallowing large pills with or without water, or swallowing certain types of medicines.
• Swallowing (ingesting) harmful chemicals, such as household cleaning products.
• Heavy alcohol use.
• An infection of the esophagus. This most often occurs in people who have a weakened immune system.
• Radiation or chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
• Certain diseases such as sarcoidosis, Crohn disease, and scleroderma.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Difficult or painful swallowing.
• Pain with swallowing acidic liquids, such as citrus juices.
• Pain with burping.
• Chest pain.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Weight loss.
• Ulcers in the mouth.
• Patches of white material in the mouth (candidiasis).
• Fever.
• Coughing up blood or vomiting blood.
• Stool that is black, tarry, or bright red.

How is this diagnosed?

Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. You may also have other tests, including:

• An endoscopy to examine your stomach and esophagus with a small camera.
• A test that measures the acidity level in your esophagus.
• A test that measures how much pressure is on your esophagus.
• A barium swallow or modified barium swallow to show the shape, size, and functioning of your esophagus.
• Allergy tests.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on the cause of your esophagitis. In some cases, steroids or other medicines may be given to help relieve your symptoms or to treat the underlying cause of your condition. You may have to make some lifestyle changes, such as:

• Avoiding alcohol.
• Quitting smoking.
• Changing your diet.
• Exercising.
• Changing your sleep habits and your sleep environment.

Follow these instructions at home:

Take these actions to decrease your discomfort and to help avoid complications.

Diet

• Follow a diet as recommended by your health care provider. This may involve avoiding foods and drinks such as:
  • Coffee and tea (with or without caffeine).
  • Drinks that contain alcohol.
  • Energy drinks and sports drinks.
  • Carbonated drinks or sodas.
  • Chocolate and cocoa.
  • Peppermint and mint flavorings.
  • Garlic and onions.
  • Horseradish.
  • Spicy and acidic foods, including peppers, chili powder, curry powder, vinegar, hot sauces, and barbecue sauce.
  • Citrus fruit juices and citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and limes.
  • Tomato-based foods, such as red sauce, chili, salsa, and pizza with red sauce.
  • Fried and fatty foods, such as donuts, french fries, potato chips, and high-fat dressings.
  • High-fat meats, such as hot dogs and fatty cuts of red and white meats, such as rib eye steak, sausage, ham, and bacon.
  • High-fat dairy items, such as whole milk, butter, and cream cheese.
• Eat small, frequent meals instead of large meals.
• Avoid drinking large amounts of liquid with your meals.
• Avoid eating meals during the 2–3 hours before bedtime.
• Avoid lying down right after you eat.
• Do notexercise right after you eat.
• Avoid foods and drinks that seem to make your symptoms worse.

General instructions

• Pay attention to any changes in your symptoms.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. Do nottake aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs unless your health care provider told you to do so.
• If you have trouble taking pills, use a pill splitter to decrease the size of the pill. This will decrease the chance of the pill getting stuck or injuring your esophagus on the way down. Also, drink water after you take a pill.
• Do notuse any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing. Do notwear anything tight around your waist that causes pressure on your abdomen.
• Raise (elevate) the head of your bed about 6 inches (15 cm).
• Try to reduce your stress, such as with yoga or meditation. If you need help reducing stress, ask your health care provider.
• If you are overweight, reduce your weight to an amount that is healthy for you. Ask your health care provider for guidance about a safe weight loss goal.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have new symptoms.
• You have unexplained weight loss.
• You have difficulty swallowing, or it hurts to swallow.
• You have wheezing or a persistent cough.
• Your symptoms do not improve with treatment.
• You have frequent heartburn for more than two weeks.

Get help right away if:

• You have severe pain in your arms, neck, jaw, teeth, or back.
• You feel sweaty, dizzy, or light-headed.
• You have chest pain or shortness of breath.
• You vomit and your vomit looks like blood or coffee grounds.
• Your stool is bloody or black.
• You have a fever.
• You cannot swallow, drink, or eat.