In the endoscopy room, there are often patients holding the gastroscopy report and asking with a confused face: "Doctor, I haven't eaten anything moldy, why is my esophagus moldy?" ”
In fact, this is because the patient has fungal esophagitis, and the esophagus is infected with a fungus, forming yellowish-white patches that look like what we often call mold.
Today, I will explain to you the culprit that causes "mold" in the esophagus - fungal esophagitis.
What is fungal esophagitis?
Fungal esophagitis is the most common esophageal infectious disease, with Candida as the main pathogenic fungus, so it is also called candidal esophagitis.
Candida is commonly found in the esophagus of normal people, but it is generally in small quantities and is as peaceful as other commensal bacteria in the human body. However, when the body's resistance is weakened, Candida will grow wildly in the esophageal mucosa, forming yellowish-white patches on the mucosa, eventually leading to fungal esophagitis.
What are the risk factors for fungal esophagitis?
Under normal circumstances, the body's digestive defense system can inhibit the overgrowth of fungi. However, when the local defense mechanism of the esophagus is disrupted or the immune function is weakened due to systemic factors, it may cause the occurrence of fungal esophagitis.
1.There are certain underlying diseases that will lead to decreased immunity, such as AIDS, diabetes, malignant tumors, liver cirrhosis, etc.;
2.Receiving high doses of radioactivity** and prolonged, high-dose use of certain drugs, such as broad-spectrum antibiotics, hormones, immunosuppressants, antacids, etc.;
3.Long-term smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, or severe esophageal motility disorders, such as esophageal achalasia, scleroderma.
What are the symptoms of fungal esophagitis?
The most common symptoms are painful swallowing, dysphagia, and retrosternal pain, and other symptoms include abdominal pain, heartburn, weight loss, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and melena.
White plaques or exudates adhered to the esophageal mucosa can be seen through gastroscopy, and they cannot be washed away by water, and patients with severe infections may also have erosions, ulcers, strictures, etc.
If necessary, the doctor will biopsy or brush the esophageal mucosa during gastroscopy to further complete the histopathological examination, and the pseudohyphae of Candida and some characteristic histological changes can be seen under the microscope.
However, there are also patients who have no symptoms at all and only slight changes under endoscopy.
How is fungal esophagitis**?
1.Remove ** and improve immunity: try to eliminate the causes of the disease, stop broad-spectrum antibiotics, hormones and other drugs if possible, strengthen nutrition, and improve the body's immunity.
2.Diet and activity: Eat a light and easily digestible diet, and avoid eating hard, rough, and irritating foods to avoid inducing esophageal bleeding.
3.Medications**: If you have symptoms of fungal esophagitis, you should use antimicrobial drugs under the guidance of a doctor**. During the period of taking the drug, it is necessary to check the liver function regularly according to the doctor's instructions to avoid liver function damage, and actively recheck and evaluate the effect after taking the drug.
4.Surgery**: When complications such as esophageal stricture, bleeding, and perforation are comorbidden, endoscopic** or surgical** may be considered.
Prognosis of fungal esophagitis.
The prognosis of fungal esophagitis is generally good, and it can be done in 1-2 weeks, but it is easy, so in addition to the positive, we should also pay attention to improving the body's immunity while avoiding various triggers and staying away from exogenous infection.
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