How Serious Is Erosive Esophagitis?

Medically Reviewed on 11/11/2022
Erosive Esophagitis
Erosive esophagitis can be cured especially when detected and treated early.

Erosive esophagitis can cause serious consequences if left untreated. The complications include esophageal scarring or stricture formation.

  • Scarring is the process in which the healthy esophageal tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue.
  • This can impair the functioning of the esophagus due to stiffening or narrowing (stricture formation).
  • Narrowing of the esophagus may impair the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach, causing problems, such as difficulty swallowing and consequent malnutrition.

When food does not pass through the esophagus due to narrowing or strictures, it may find its way back to the mouth and throat, from where it may enter the respiratory tract (aspiration). This can cause inflammation of the lungs (aspiration pneumonitis). Refluxed food can irritate the throat, causing inflammation (laryngitis).

Untreated erosive esophagitis may cause changes in the lining of the esophagus (Barrette’s esophagus), a condition that increases the risk of esophageal cancer.

Inflamed and worn-out areas are at risk of bleeding and developing holes or tears (perforation) in the esophageal wall.

To summarize, erosive esophagitis can lead to the following complications:

  • Scarring
  • Stricture formation
  • Perforation or tears
  • Bleeding
  • Laryngitis
  • Barrette’s esophagus
  • Aspiration pneumonitis

What is erosive esophagitis?

Erosive esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus along with areas of erosion (wearing away) of its lining.

  • The passage of food and fluids you eat and drink to the stomach is achieved by wave-like motion (peristalsis) of the esophageal wall.
  • The backflow of the contents in the stomach is prevented by the lower esophageal sphincter (a muscular valve) at the lower end of the esophagus where it meets the stomach.

What are the symptoms of erosive esophagitis?

Symptoms of erosive esophagitis include:

Difficulty swallowing may impair sufficient nutrient intake, leading to nutritional deficiencies. This may present as feeding difficulties and failure to gain weight (failure to thrive) in infants and young children.

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What causes esophagitis?

Depending on its cause, esophagitis can be of five main types:

  1. Reflux esophagitis
    • Caused by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. This leads to injury to the lining of the esophagus, resulting in erosions and inflammation. It occurs due to the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter that prevents the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux).
  2. Infectious esophagitis
    • Occurs due to an infection of the esophagus, leading to its inflammation. A yeast infection mainly causes infectious esophagitis in people with poor immunity, such as people with HIV or organ transplant recipients. It could be caused by other disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
  3. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
    • This may occur due to a chronic accumulation of immune cells called eosinophils in the esophagus. This happens in response to an allergen (allergy-causing agent) or acid reflux. At times both acid reflux and allergens could be involved.
  4. Pill-induced or drug-induced esophagitis
  5. Radiation-induced esophagitis
    • Affects people who undergo radiotherapy. The radiation can cause esophagitis by damaging the esophageal lining, leading to inflammation.

How is erosive esophagitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of erosive esophagitis could be done by the doctor based on your detailed medical history, physical examination, and certain investigations.

Your doctor may ask about the symptoms you experience, their onset and duration, and whether you have any underlying health conditions or take any supplements or medications. They may ask for other relevant information, such as dietary habits or smoking or alcohol consumption.

They will then perform a detailed physical examination including an abdominal examination (for bowel sounds, any lump, or distension), nutrition status, and oral examination to look for any damage to the teeth or mouth caused by acid reflux.

They may suggest investigations to reach a definitive diagnosis, such as:

  • Blood counts
  • Barium X-ray (involves drinking a chalky fluid containing a barium salt or swallowing a barium-coated pill and then taking X-rays)
  • Prolonged (24 to 96 hours) esophageal pH study (measures the frequency of acid reflux)
  • Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (allows the doctor to directly examine the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel)
  • Esophageal manometry (measures the pressure from the muscle contractions in the esophagus by inserting a tube that helps determine the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter)

Is erosive esophagitis curable?

Esophagitis can be cured especially when detected and treated early. Once the wall of the esophagus is eroded, it may take several months to achieve complete healing.

Treatment mainly depends on the type of esophagitis.

  • Reflux esophagitis
    • Dietary and lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding spicy, fatty foods, not lying down right after a meal, and maintaining a healthy weight
    • Medications, such as antacids, H2-blockers, prokinetics, and proton pump inhibitors
    • Surgery could be needed in some cases that may not improve with conservative management
  • Pill-induced esophagitis
    • Prescribing an alternative treatment or alternative form of the drug, such as a liquid or injectable form
    • Taking the medication with enough water
    • Staying upright for at least half an hour after taking the drug
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis
    • Avoiding the culprit foods or food allergens
    • Treatment of acid reflux when present
    • Medications called biologics that alter the immune response
  • Infections esophagitis is mainly treated by appropriate medications to treat the infection (such as antifungals, antibiotics, or antiviral medications). Appropriate measures are taken to improve the person’s immunity.
  • Radiation-induced esophagitis could be treated with proton pump inhibitors, prokinetic drugs, and viscous lidocaine. Dietary modifications could be advised.
Medically Reviewed on 11/11/2022
References
Image Source: iStock image

Esophagitis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442012/

Reflux Esophagitis. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1610393-overview#a3

Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults (Beyond the Basics). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-in-adults-beyond-the-basics#H7

Esophagitis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophagitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361264