Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus, which is the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach. It can be caused by various factors, including:

• Acid reflux: This is the most common cause of esophagitis. It occurs when stomach acid and digestive agents escape your stomach and reflux into your esophagus, irritating and eroding the mucous lining.

• Infections: Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections in the tissues of the esophagus can cause esophagitis. This is more common in people with a weak immune system.

• Medications: Certain medications can cause esophagitis, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs.

• Autoimmune disorders: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an autoimmune disorder that can cause esophagitis.

Symptoms of esophagitis include sore throat, difficulty or painful swallowing, heartburn, acid reflux, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. If left untreated, esophagitis can lead to serious complications such as ulcers, scarring of the esophagus, and even esophageal cancer.

Esophagitis is diagnosed based on symptoms and may be confirmed by an endoscopy, which is a procedure where a doctor looks directly at the inside of the esophagus with a video camera. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include medications, lifestyle changes, and in severe cases, surgery.