Oesophageal inflammation – by cause, oesophagitis can be infectious (bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic), caused by a chemical agent (acid and alkali poisoning, medications) or associated with radiation, and it is most often triggered by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
It can develop entirely without complaints or symptoms, but it can also cause typical (burning in theoesophagus, acid reflux, upper abdominal pain) or atypical (coughing, tooth decay, inflammation of the throat and larynx, asthma-like symptoms, recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, swallowing problems, iron-deficiency anaemia, ear pain, increased salivation) symptoms.
Difficulty swallowing, bleeding and painful swallowing can always signal serious complications; if you notice them, see a doctor immediately!
Not infrequently, the above symptoms also occur when no changes indicating inflammation can be demonstrated in the oesophagus. Such cases are called non-erosive reflux disease.
In its development, individual characteristics (hypersensitivity of the lining, motility disorders of the oesophagus, eating habits) are thought to play a role.
