Esophagitis means inflammation of esophagus. There are various types of esophagitis. The signs and symptoms of each type of esophagitis are more or less the same, but the causes are different. For example,
1. Chemical esophagitis: Caused by chemicals, Click here to read in detail about chemical esophagitis
2.Infectious esophagitis: As name itself represents, it is caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses. Click here to learn more about Infectious esophagitis
3. Reflux Esophagitis: Reflux esophagitis is a result of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Click here to learn more about Reflux esophagitis
4. Barret esophagitis: Caused by chronic reflux of stomach acid back to to esophagus. Chronic untreated GERD causes this type of esophagitis. Click here to learn more about barret esophagus
Dr. Siddique Akbar Satti, an honorable member of Medicotips.com, and also is the Head of Medicine Department of Capital Hospital Islamabad Pakistan, who is also an expert endoscopist, has shared some very clear pictures of reflux esophagitis. And these pictures are being shared here for the readers of Medicotips.com
First of all have a look at the endoscopic view of normal esophagus, after that compare it with the endoscopic view of affected esophagus.
Now, the picture you are seeing above is an endoscopic view of a normal esophagus. Now compare this with the endoscopic pictures of an affected esophagus which are given below.
You must have noticed a clear difference. The chronic acid reflux to esophagus has destroyed the smooth surface of esophagus. The surface has become rough, bumped and reddish. Now these pictures must have given you some idea of the pain that the affected patients suffer due to the reflux esophagitis. Sometimes the pain becomes so severe that a doctor needs to do special test to rule out cardiac event or Myocardial Infarction, which is known as heart attack in a layman term.
Thanks to Dr. Siddique Akbar Satti for sharing these pictures with us all.