Esophagitis and Symptoms

Esophagitis is inflammation that damages tissues of the esophagus, the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach.

Esophagitis (uh-sof-uh-JI-tis) often causes painful, difficult swallowing and chest pain. Causes of esophagitis include stomach acids backing up into the esophagus, infection, oral medications and allergies.

Treatments for esophagitis depend on the underlying cause and the severity of tissue damage. If left untreated, esophagitis may change the structure and function of the esophagus.

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of esophagitis include:

1. Difficult swallowing (dysphagia)
2. Painful swallowing (odynophagia)
3. Chest pain, particularly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating
4. Swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus (food impaction)
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting
7. Abdominal pain
8. Cough
9. Decreased appetite