Esophagitis – Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, And Treatment
Esophagitis is a condition in which the esophagus, a muscular tube that transports food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach, becomes inflamed. It can cause pain in your throat when swallowing food or water, a burning sensation in your lower chest, and a feeling that the food is getting stuck in your throat or struggling to pass through the esophagus.
If you have been putting off meals lately because of the pain and irritation that eating and swallowing causes, you need to get yourself checked and treated.
Do not hesitate to contact Dr. Samrat Jankar, an acclaimed Gastroenterologist in Pune. He has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience by successfully managing hundreds of challenging cases.
What causes esophagitis?
Esophagitis can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- If you have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which occurs when stomach acid frequently leaks into your esophagus
- If you experience persistent vomiting
- If you suffer from the autoimmune disease scleroderma that hardens and tightens the skin
- If you are allergic to certain foods
The eminent surgical gastroenterologist in Pune, Dr. Samrat Jankar, adds that other causes of esophagitis include ingestion of acidic or alkaline solutions and (NG) nasogastric tube insertion.
Acidic or alkaline solutions cause chemical injury to your esophagus. NG tube insertion is a temporary procedure that enables substances to be removed or added to your stomach.
What are the symptoms and signs of esophagitis?
Symptoms can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, depending on the individual. They may include the following:
- Mouth sores
- Throat soreness
- The sensation that something is lodged in the throat
- Vomiting or nausea
- Having difficulty swallowing
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
The signs and symptoms of esophagitis can be mistaken for those of other illnesses. Please consult Dr. Samrat Jankar, among the top gastroenterologists and bariatric surgeons in Pune, for his expert advice and suitable treatment.
What are the risk factors of esophagitis?
You may be susceptible to esophagitis if you:
- Smoke heavily
- Abuse alcohol
- Are obese
- Are pregnant
- Are a senior citizen
- Have injured your spinal cord
- Swallow large pills with inadequate water, which makes the tablet or capsule to scrape or get stuck in your throat
- Have radiation treatment
- Use specific medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), beta-blockers, antibiotics, nitrates, or potassium supplements
- Regularly eat significant amounts of specific foods and beverages, such as citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, chocolate, onions, garlic, spicy foods, and caffeine
Lie down soon after your meals
What is the diagnostic procedure for esophagitis?
There are numerous tests that can be done to identify esophagitis once your doctor has completed a detailed physical examination and examined your medical history. These are some of them:
- Endoscopy: An endoscope is a long, flexible illuminated tube used to examine the esophagus.
- Biopsy: A tiny sample of your esophagus tissue is taken and analyzed under a microscope in a laboratory.
- Esophageal pH test: The gastroenterologist will place sensors or small cables to collect data over 1 – 3 days during an endoscopy. This test can assist your healthcare professional in determining whether stomach acid is present in the esophagus.
- Barium X-ray: After you consume a barium solution to coat the lining of your esophagus, X-rays of your esophagus are taken. This test allows the surgeons to view the esophageal anomalies.
Other tests, including blood, skin-prick, or elimination diet, may be done to determine if you are sensitive to any allergens.
How is esophagitis treated?
Treatment is entirely determined by the cause of the inflammation:
Taking medicines:
Acid blockers, such as proton pump inhibitors and H2-blockers, reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach.
Other medications may be used to strengthen the valve between your stomach and esophagus. The valve is known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It prevents gastric acid from leaking out of your stomach.
Infection-fighting medications (such as antibiotics) may be prescribed. Certain types of esophagitis may require the use of steroids to minimize the inflammation.
Avoid certain foods:
If the tests determine that you are allergic to some foods, then you will have to stop eating those foods.
Dilation:
Nissen Fundoplication:
A surgery in which your lower esophageal sphincter is strengthened by wrapping part of your stomach around it. This procedure prevents stomach acid from leaking back into your esophagus.
Surgical or endoscopic techniques, such as Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication, are reserved for individuals who have failed to respond to medicinal treatment.
Dr. Samrat Jankar, a top-notch piles and fistula specialist in Pune, says that surgery is recommended if your esophagus has narrowed or bleeding is observed. It may also be advised to stop any precancerous cells from spreading.
Conclusion:
Esophagitis may reappear unless you make a few lifestyle adjustments. You can follow a soft-food diet plan to speed up the healing process. This type of diet is intended to make consuming food less uncomfortable and prevent food from remaining in your esophagus for too long, inducing discomfort.
Esophagitis can have a negative impact on the quality of your life. If not treated in time, it can progress into Barrett’s esophagus and make you more susceptible to esophageal cancer.
Do not delay any longer. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Samrat Jankar, of the leading gastroenterologists in Pune.
His dedication to studying the most sophisticated and cutting-edge surgical procedures and applying them to all treatments guarantees that his patients receive the most suitable, safe, and effective treatment.