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Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach. You will know that your esophagus is inflamed when you have problems swallowing or experience pain when swallowing.
It’s because esophagitis can cause ulcers, scarring, or obstruction in the esophagus. So, it's essential to understand what causes the condition and how best to deal with it.
Several factors can lead to esophagitis, including:
GERD/Acid reflux — Acid reflux is the most common cause of esophagitis. It’s a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and involves the flow of the extremely acidic content of the stomach back into the esophagus. If this happens repeatedly,the stomach acid can cause serious damage to the esophagus.
Frequent vomiting — Vomit is extremely acidic so, frequent vomiting can also damage the esophagus and cause it to get inflamed. People with bulimia are at risk for esophagitis.
Infections — Infections that appear in the esophagus can cause esophagitis. However, such infections are most common inimmune-compromised patients such as transplant patients, patients receiving radiation therapy, and HIV-positive patients.
Infections of the esophagitis are usually fungal or viral. The most common fungal infection causing esophagitis isCandida esophagitis. Viral esophagitis is mostly the result of either herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus.
Medications — Certain medications can cause chemical burns in the esophagus that can lead to esophagitis. These include aspirin, iron supplements, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), doxycycline, and certain osteoporosis medicines.
Medical treatments – Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation for cancer can damage the esophagus lining, causing esophagitis.
You would think an inflamed esophagus would feel like a sore throat, but it's more than that. Esophagitis can present with intense chest pain felt behind the breastbone.
Another common symptom is difficulty swallowing – you feel as if the food is stuck in your throat and have to wait for it to travel down the esophagus before you can continue eating.
If acid reflux is the cause of esophagitis,heartburn will be one of the symptoms you experience, especially after meals.
Anesophageal ulcer is not the same as esophagitis. An esophageal ulcer is a sore in the lining of the esophagus; esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. The ulcer is usually located in the lower part of the esophagus. However, the inflammation is not localized in the lower part of the organ – it can appear anywhere along the esophagus.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is usually the cause of esophageal ulcers. But fungi and viruses can also result in esophageal ulcers. Sometimes, damage from acid reflux can also be the cause.
It depends on the cause and how effectively you can address the cause. For example, if your doctor has established that the inflammation is caused by NSAIDs, simply stopping the medicine may clear up the inflammation within weeks.
If your doctor has trouble establishing the cause of the inflammation, you might have to try several strategies and medicines before the inflammation starts going down. As soon as you start the appropriate treatment, healing will begin but complete recovery usually takesthree to six weeks.
But you will only start recovering from the inflammation if you can pinpoint what's causing the irritation and stop it long enough for your esophagus to recover.
The treatment for esophagitis depends on the underlying causes of the disorder. Treatments according to thecauses of esophagitis are:
This condition is caused by GERD. Doctors prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to inhibit the production of stomach acid. Other medications like H2 receptor blockers may also be prescribed, or simply: over-the-counter medications, like antacids.
This type of esophagitis is caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Antibiotics will be prescribed for bacterial infections; antivirals for viral infections such as herpes, and antifungals for fungal infections, like candida.
Eosinophilic esophagitis is caused by a build-up of a type of white blood cell - Eosinophil - in the lining of the esophagus. The buildup is a reaction to certain food. First, you need to identify the food causing the inflammatory reaction so you can avoid it.
Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids and medication to treat allergies.
If the damage is due to medication, it may be helpful to change to a liquid form of the medication or to another medication that doesn't irritate the esophagus. It is also advisable to take tablets with plenty of water.
If the condition doesn't improve with medicine and/or dietary adjustment, surgery or esophageal dilation may be employed to ease swallowing and reduce discomfort.
Dilation involves widening the narrowed parts of the esophagus mechanically with a balloon so food can move more easily down the esophagus. This approach helps you to swallow your food, but won't treat the inflammation.
A fairly recent treatment for reflux esophagitis involves the LINX procedure – a ring of magnetic titanium beads placed around the lower esophageal sphincter, which helps to strengthen it so stomach content can't flow back into the esophagus.
There is much you can do to help esophagitis clear up naturally. You can follow a so-calledsoft food diet and implement some lifestyle changes that won't be difficult to do.
The soft food diet will make it easier to swallow your food and prevent it from getting stuck in your throat.
Apart from being aware of the food items that cause problems and avoiding them, plan your meals around food that is easily digestible. Also, it's advisable to avoid food and drink that is very hot or very cold.
The soft food diet plan includes the following food items.
You can enjoy milk and other dairy products, but it's best to eat soft cheeses rather than hard cheese. Choose cottage cheese, ricotta, and Labneh – a Middle-Eastern-style yogurt with the consistency of soft cheese.
You can also enjoy yogurt, but stick to plain yogurt without fruit, nuts, granola, or seeds.
When choosing protein, think of something soft that will be easy to swallow, like mince, fish, or poultry. You can also eat ground pork and poultry. In addition, you can make meats softer by marinating them first.
Avoid fried or roasted meat, like bacon, roast beef, and meat seasoned with peppercorns. Choose boneless cuts or fillets of hake cod and haddock, which will be easy to swallow.
Don't forget eggs. The best way to prepare eggs for a soft diet is to scramble them. Add a little water to the raw eggs when you beat them. This method steams the eggs, which renders them really soft and easy to swallow.
Choose vegetables that are not too fibrous, such as broccoli, okra, celery, and artichokes. Choose vegetables that cook soft and can be mashed like potatoes, carrots, squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. While your esophagitis is severe, cook your vegetables well and mash or liquidize them.
In terms of fruit, you can try papaya, banana, canned fruit, and applesauce.
Broths and soups are nutritious, easy to make, and will be easy to swallow. Cook them over a long time to soften the vegetables properly.
Be careful with bread. Bread can stick in your throat. Instead, you can eat cereals without nuts and dried fruits. You can also eat noodles and pasta. Avoid popcorn, rice, and bread with nuts.
If you want to eat crackers or bread, you can try dipping them into soups or broths, to soften them.
These are just general suggestions. If you suspect that you have an inflamed esophagus, speak to your healthcare provider about an esophageal soft food diet applicable to your situation.
Adopt the following lifestyle habits to treat your esophagitis.
Soluble fiber is good for esophagitis. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and becomes a gel-like substance. This gel can absorb liquid in the digestive system, including the liquid contents of the stomach. By absorbing stomach content, soluble fiber keeps it in the stomach, preventing it from moving back into the esophagus where it can causeheartburn and damage the esophagus lining.
Foods rich in soluble fiber that you can include in your diet are oatmeal, barley, beans, lentils, peas, beets, and carrots. However, if your esophagus is very painful, liquidize fiber-rich foods until you feel your throat is better.
While your esophagus has not recovered yet, avoid sources of insoluble fiber, such as whole wheat, corn, seeds, and nuts. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, remains mostly intact, and may irritate or hurt your esophagus.
While your esophagus is recovering and to ensure that you get enough fiber, you can consider taking afiber powder to improve your digestive health.
In addition to following the soft food diet, which will give your esophagus time to heal, doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center suggestavoiding the following foods.
Yes, water can ease the swallowing process and also dilute the acid in your stomach, helping you feel better if you have acid reflux.
Taking frequent sips of water can also soothe the esophagus. Taking pills with a full glass of water can also help prevent pills from getting stuck in your throat, so you don't get pill esophagitis.
Yes, yogurt is soothing for esophagitis, provided it contains no fruit or seeds.
Esophagitis that doesn't heal can lead to more serious conditions such as a weakening of the esophageal lining, scarring that leads to narrowing of the esophagus, and Barrett's esophagus, which can increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus. There are several types of esophagitis, depending on the factor that caused the condition, and the treatment varies accordingly.
It is essential not to ignore the condition as it can lead to serious consequences. If you suffer from frequent heartburn or acid reflux, consult your doctor for advice.