Erosive Esophagitis

Erosive esophagitis refers to inflammation, swelling, or other injury to the lining of the esophagus. It can be a painful condition that causes problems swallowing and can increase your risk for developing esophageal cancer. The treatment your doctor recommends for erosive esophagitis will often depend on what caused the damage to your esophagus in the first place.

Acid Reflux
Erosive esophagitis can be caused by repeated exposure to stomach acid, caused by frequent acid reflux. If acid reflux is the root of your esophagus damage, your physician may prescribe proton pump inhibitors, a medication that reduces the production of acid in your stomach.

Infection
Erosive esophagitis may also be the result of a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. You may be given antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, antiviral medication to control viral infections, or anti-ergesterol drugs, such as Diflucan to treat fungal infections. Fungal and viral infections are most common in people with poor immune systems.

Object-induced
In rare cases, your erosive esophagitis may be caused by an object in your esophagus causing irritation. This type of esophagitis can be diagnosed and treated with an esophagoscopy, which involves placing a tiny tube and camera down your throat.

If medication and other less invasive treatment options fail, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your erosive esophagitis. Surgery may be aimed at stopping the cause of the damage, such as a fundoplication to prevents acid reflux, or at repairing the damage.