Everything you Need to Know …and More
Essential Information about…Oesophagitis
What is Oesophagitis?
Oesophagitis is an inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus, the pipe that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.
Oesophagitis Symptoms
Sufferers may experience:
- A burning sensation in the lower chest immediately after swallowing hot fluids (e.g. tea or soup), alcohol, concentrated fruit juice or hot fatty foods such as bacon and eggs
- A burning sensation in the chest after meals, or when bending or lying flat
- Tummy pain
- Heartburn and acid reflux
- Regurgitation when food or fluid may come up into the mouth, especially when lying down or in bed at night
- In severe cases a person may wake up coughing or with a choking sensation
- Trouble swallowing (dysphagia), including painful swallowing, first solid foods and then more liquid foods, with the feeling that it is getting stuck
Oesophagitis Causes
Most cases of Oesophagitis are due to the reflux of stomach acids repeatedly passing back to the lower oesophagus and irritating the inside lining of the oesophagus.
Diagnosing Oesophagitis
If you are experiencing the symptoms of Oesophagitis please contact your GP immediately who can refer you for tests.
There can be complications which can occur as a result of Oesophagitis so it is important that you visit your GP if you have persistent heartburn or acid reflux:
- Scarring and narrowing can occur if you have had inflammation for a long period of time although this is uncommon
- Barrett’s Oesophagus can develop when there is a change to the cells when they have repaired
- Cancer of the oesophagus may develop in around 1 or 2 in 100 people who have experienced untreated long term acid reflux
Oesophagitis Treatment
You will usually be prescribed medication based on your symptoms. An acid suppressing medicine like a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) or a H2 Blocker (histamine receptor blocker) which will suppress the acid so the inflammation in your oesophagus can clear. Â
You are likely then to only need to go back to your GP every so often although if your symptoms persist and/or you are seeing your GP more frequently, they may suggest you continue to take the medication daily or refer you for tests to investigate further.
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