Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. Read on to know more on esophagitis symptoms, how they present themselves and ways to deal with them…
We all know that the digestive system starts in the mouth and ends with the colon. Of the different parts of the digestive system, there are very few places where there is no kind of chemical digestion taking place. One of the parts where food is merely moving without getting digested is the esophagus. Yes, the main esophagus function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. However, sometimes things can go wrong with the esophagus. When there is inflammation of the inner lining of the esophagus, it is known as esophagitis. This can be brought on by various conditions, such as acid reflux disease, alcoholism, hyperacidity or even due to a viral infection, in case the person is immunocompromised. The important part is to recognize esophagitis symptoms at the earliest. These have been enlisted below.
Dysphagia
One of the most common esophagitis signs is difficulty swallowing or dysphagia. There can be many reasons for this symptom. Sometimes, the esophagus is slightly constricted or it may not move in the required wave like pattern to allow food to pass. Dysphagia is especially seen in cases of eosinophilic esophagitis. In this case, food tends to get stuck halfway through the esophagus, which is known as food impaction. This happens because the ability of the esophagus to stretch is decreased and so, food does not pass easily, which leads to difficulty swallowing food. If this is accompanied by pain, then it is known as odynophagia.
Heartburn
One of the most common causes of esophagitis is GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease). Thus, it comes as no surprise that one of the esophagitis warning symptoms is heartburn. This heartburn may or may not become worse after taking a meal. This is sensed as a discomfort in the region just behind the breastbone. However, it usually becomes more pronounced and severe after a meal.
Other Symptoms
There are a few more symptoms that may be seen along with the above mentioned ones. Due to the pain while swallowing and the risk of choking, a person may eventually lose his appetite. Loss of appetite may also be seen due to the heartburn that is felt after a meal. Stomach pain, along with nausea and vomiting may also occur. In some cases, there may be regurgitation of the acid contents of the stomach, which only further worsens the existing symptoms. This is one of the erosive esophagitis symptoms. In mild cases, there may be regurgitation of water into the mouth, which comes as tasteless saliva. This is known as water brash. If the person has a habit of regurgitating saliva and food from the stomach, then he may even end up affecting his dental health and may land with mouth sores or mouth blisters, which can be quite painful. Small and young children are not spared of this condition and repeatedly throwing up may lead to disturbances in the feeding habits of the child, which may make him lose his appetite, thus, affecting the growth and health of the child.
These were the various symptoms of esophagitis that may be seen in an individual. Although these symptoms are not as severe as the symptoms seen in esophageal cancer, this condition can decrease the quality of life in people and may eventually make them lose their appetite completely. This is one of the main reasons why this esophagus problem needs to be taken seriously. So, one needs to seek esophagitis treatment and prevention on a timely basis, so that no further complications arise from this condition. One shouldn’t take symptoms like esophagus pain very lightly, and must seek treatment at the earliest for the same.
