Corrosive Esophagitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Corrosive esophagitis is a condition where your esophagus is hurt or damaged by harmful substances. The damage may cause inflammation (swelling), scarring, and ulcers (tears). The damage may be caused by chemicals, medicines, or radiation. The esophagus is a soft hollow tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. With corrosive esophagitis, you may have a fever and pain and trouble swallowing. You may need to have a barium swallow, a biopsy, or an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
  
  
• When you have bleeding and damage in your esophagus, you may need surgery or dilatation. You may also need medicines such as steroids, antibiotics, and stomach acid medicines. To help your esophagus heal, you may need to avoid eating foods that are spicy. You may also have to eat foods that are soft and can be swallowed easily. Treating your corrosive esophagitis may decrease the swelling and scarring in your esophagus. Treatment may also decrease your pain and make it easier for you to swallow.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to treat or prevent infections caused by germs called bacteria.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation which is redness, pain, and swelling. There are many different reasons to take steroids. This medicine may help, but may also have side effects. Be sure you understand why you need steroids. Do not stop taking this medicine without your caregivers OK. Stopping on your own may cause a bad response.
  
  
• Stomach acid medicines: These medicines make the food and acids in your stomach less harmful to tissues in your esophagus.
  
  
• Anti-ulcer medicine: This medicine causes your stomach and esophagus to make a thick layer of mucus. This layer will protect the tissues from strong acids. Tears and wounds on your esophagus will heal better when they are covered by the mucus layer.

Follow-up visit information:

Your caregiver may need to repeat your EGD to check if your esophagus is healing well. Ask your caregiver when you will need to come back. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Your caregiver may need to repeat your EGD to check if your esophagus is healing well. Ask your caregiver when you will need to come back.

Diet:

You may also need to eat foods that are soft and easy to swallow. Some examples are applesauce, baby food, bananas, cooked cereal, cottage cheese, eggs, gelatin, pudding, and yogurt.

Preventing corrosive esophagitis:

• Do not take your pills at bedtime or right before lying down. You may take them while standing up or sitting upright. Stay in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes after taking your pills.
  
  
• If you have symptoms of corrosive esophagitis, avoid drinking coffee and eating spicy foods. Avoid drinking alcohol, sour fruit juices, and liquid products that may have tomato in them.
  
  
• Label bottles with harmful substances, and keep them out of the reach of children.
  
  
• Take medicines that come in liquid form if your esophagus is narrow. If no liquid form of your medicine is available, you may be able to crush the pill. The crushed pill can then be mixed with liquid to drink. Ask your caregiver for more information about how you should take your medicines.
  
  
• Take your pills one at a time, and swallow them with 75 to 100 milliliters (ml) of liquid. This is equal to half a can of soda. This will help the pill slide down your esophagus quickly.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have pain that does not decrease or go away after taking your medicine.
  
  
• You throw up and cannot keep food or liquids down.
  
  
• Your stomach feels very full, and you cannot burp or vomit (throw up).
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You are vomiting and it looks like coffee grounds or has blood in it.
  
  
• You suddenly have chest pain and trouble breathing.
  
  
• Your bowel movements are black, or are bloody.
  
  
• Your symptoms are getting worse.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Corrosive Esophagitis (Aftercare Instructions)