ESOPHAGITIS

Course overview

ESOPHAGITIS REFERS TO INFLAMMATION OR INJURY TO THE ESOPHAGEAL MUCOSA. ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES IS GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX, WHICH CAN LEAD TO EROSIVE ESOPHAGITIS. OTHER ETIOLOGIES INCLUDE RADIATION, INFECTIONS, LOCAL INJURY CAUSED BY MEDICATIONS, PILL ESOPHAGITIS, AND EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS (EOE). THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGITIS ARE CHEST PAIN, ODYNOPHAGIA, AND DYSPHAGIA. PATIENTS WITH EOE MAY PRESENT WITH FOOD IMPACTION. IF THE ESOPHAGITIS IS SEVERE AND LEADS TO STRICTURES, FISTULIZATION, AND PERFORATION, PATIENTS MAY PRESENT WITH SYMPTOMS RELATED TO THOSE ENTITIES.