Esophageal candidiasis (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

Overview

Esophageal candidiasis is a yeast infection of the mucus membrane lining of the esophagus.

What are the symptoms of Oral candidiasis?

Esophageal candidiasis causes difficult and painful swallowing especially in patients whom immunity is decreased (HIV or patients on chemotherapy).

What causes Oral candidiasis?

Esophageal candidiasis is caused by forms of a fungus called Candida. A small amount of this fungus lives in your mouth and mucous membranes most of the time. It is usually kept in check by your immune system and other types of germs that also normally live in your mouth. However, when your immune system is weaker, the fungus can grow, leading to sores (lesions) in your esophagus. The following can increase your chances of getting thrush:

Taking steroid medications
Having an HIV infection or AIDS
Receiving chemotherapy for cancer or drugs to suppress your immune system following an organ transplantation
Being very old or very young
Being in poor health

Who is at highest risk?

People who have HIV or who had organ transplant are at highest risk of having esophageal candidiasis. Also people with impaired motility of the esophagus that causes food stagnation there are highly vulnerable to esophageal candidiasis.

Diagnosis

Your doctor can almost always diagnose thrush by looking at your esophagus through the endoscope. These fungal lesions have a distinct appearance. If not entirely clear, one of the following tests may be performed to look for the Candida organisms:

Microscopic examination of esophageal endoscopic biopsies.
Culture of esophageal endoscopic biopsies.

Treatment options

Candida esophagitis requires treatment using oral or parenteral antifungal agents.

Where to find medical care for Oral candidiasis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Oral candidiasis

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Esophageal candidiasis usually responds to antifungal treatment but due to decreased immunity, there is a chance of recurrence. The

Possible complications

If you have a weakened immune system (for example, if you are HIV-positive or receiving chemotherapy), Candida can spread throughout your body, causing infection in your , brain (meningitis), heart (endocarditis), joints (arthritis), or eyes (endophthalmitis). It may also cause damage locally causing esophageal perforation.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000626.htm Template:WS Template:WH