What Is Esophagitis?

Esophagitis is esophagitis, which refers to inflammation caused by irritation and congestion of the esophageal mucosa due to stimulation or damage to the superficial or deep tissues of the esophageal mucosa. Chemical stimuli include gastric acid, bile, spirits, strong acids, alkalis, drugs, etc .; physical stimuli include hot foods, beverages, esophageal foreign bodies (fishbone, etc.) incarceration, and long-term nasogastric tube placement. Esophagitis can also occur due to local damage to the esophagus due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or tuberculosis, fungal (candida), or viral infection caused by the patient's own resistance. Clinically the most common is reflux esophagitis caused by acid reflux.

Basic Information

nickname

Esophagitis

English name

esophagitis

Visiting department

Gastroenterology

Common causes

Chemical and physical stimulation

Common symptoms

Heartburn, pain, difficulty swallowing, and pain behind the sternum

Causes and classification of esophagitis

Radiation esophagitis

2. Acute corrosive esophagitis

Corrosive esophagitis is often an accident and easy to occur in children. Especially various household cleaners have entered many families and are easy to be mistakenly taken by children. These products contain sodium hydroxide (potassium), sodium carbonate (potassium), Potassium manganate and so on. Corrosive esophagitis in adults is often caused by swallowing strong acids or bases as a means of suicide. It is not uncommon to accidentally consume strong acids and alkalis in containers containing drinks or alcohol. In recent years, esophagitis caused by drugs has received clinical attention. It is now recognized that patients of all age groups may damage the esophagus by taking various therapeutic doses of the drug in various situations.

3. Purulent esophagitis

Purulent esophagitis is a purulent inflammation caused by bacteria invading the esophageal mucosa when the esophageal mucosa is damaged. Patients may be asymptomatic or have neck pain or sore throat. In addition to neck pain or swallowing pain, patients with larger lesions may also experience symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, pain behind the sternum, chills, and fever. Those with higher reactivity may often develop hyperthermia. A small number of patients can develop sepsis and show corresponding manifestations.

4. Reflux esophagitis

Clinical manifestations of esophagitis

Mainly "heartburn", swallowing pain, difficulty and pain behind the sternum are mostly. When the esophagitis is severe, it can cause esophageal spasm and esophageal stricture, feel "cyanosis" when swallowing food, and even vomit. Bleeding from esophagitis is usually mild, but it can also cause vomiting or black stools (tar stools). Esophagitis caused by different causes can be accompanied by corresponding clinical manifestations.

Esophagitis examination

1. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (esophagoscopy, gastroscopy)

Esophageal mucosa congestion, edema, surface erosion and superficial small ulcers can be seen, and sometimes the esophagus is narrowed and endoscopic passage is blocked.

2. Barium meal examination of esophagus

The damaged esophageal mucosa has rough and rough folds, and sometimes small shadows, narrowing of the esophageal lumen, and retention of barium can be seen.

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of esophagitis

1. Ask the patient's history in detail to determine the cause

Whether to ingest various kinds of strong acids and bases orally (including taking them by mistake); whether to take irritating drugs; to swallow foreign bodies such as fishbone.

2. Esophageal barium meal angiography showed abnormal findings.

3. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy

The inflammatory changes of the esophageal mucosa can be directly observed, and biopsy tissue can be taken for pathological examination.

Esophagitis complications

Esophageal ulcer

2. Esophageal stricture and obstruction

3. Esophageal perforation

4. Esophageal bleeding (vomiting blood, melena)

5. Malignant change

Esophagitis Treatment

According to the different causes, choose the appropriate treatment principles

1. Remove the cause.

2. Stomach acid inhibitors and mucosal protective agents.

3. In case of co-infection, give antibiotics (bacteria, fungi) for treatment.

4. Give hemostasis (including endoscope) treatment when there is bleeding.

5. When there are symptoms of stenosis and obstruction, endoscopic expansion and stent placement can be considered.