What do you need to know about the causes of esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)?
Esophagitis is inflammation that may damage tissues of the esophagus.
Causes
Esophagitis is generally categorized by the conditions that cause it. In some cases, more than one factor may be causing esophagitis.
Reflux esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which this backflow of acid is a frequent or ongoing problem. A complication of GERD is chronic inflammation and tissue damage in the esophagus.
Eosinophilic esophagitis
Eosinophils are white blood cells that play a key role in allergic reactions. Eosinophilic esophagitis occurs with a high concentration of these white blood cells in the esophagus, most likely in response to an allergy-causing agent (allergen) or acid reflux or both.
In many cases, this type of esophagitis may be triggered by foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, beans, rye and beef.
Lymphocytic esophagitis
Lymphocytic esophagitis is an uncommon esophageal condition in which there are an increased number of lymphocytes in the lining of the esophagus.
Drug-induced esophagitis
Several oral medications may cause tissue damage if they remain in contact with the lining of the esophagus for too long. For example, if you swallow a pill with little or no water, the pill itself or residue from the pill may remain in the esophagus.
Infectious esophagitis
A bacterial, viral or fungal infection in tissues of the esophagus may cause esophagitis. Infectious esophagitis is relatively rare and occurs most often in people with poor immune system function.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/esophagitis/symptoms-
causes/syc-20361224