Catarrhal terminal esophagitis. Catarrhal form of esophagitis - can it be cured? Symptoms of the catarrhal form of esophagitis

Catarrhal esophagitis is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. Most often, this disease occurs as a result of mechanical or chemical agents acting on the organ, infections, and the development of certain somatic pathologies.

Catarrhal esophagitis of the esophagus is the most common pathology of this organ of the digestive system. Morphologically, it is characterized by hyperemia, swelling and leukocyte infiltration of the mucous membrane of this organ of the digestive system.

What does superficial catarrhal esophagitis mean?

Catarrhal esophagitis disease with timely and adequate treatment, as well as adherence to a therapeutic diet and the implementation of all recommendations of specialists, has a favorable outcome. Many people do not know what catarrhal esophagitis means, what causes it, and how it manifests itself.

Catarrhal esophagitis is characterized by inflammation of the upper layers of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, submucosal and muscle tissues are not involved in the pathological process. This disease is also known as catarrhal superficial esophagitis, since during its development the surface layers of the mucous membranes of the digestive organs are damaged.

As a result of the action of adverse factors that irritate the already inflamed mucosa of the esophagus, epithelial cells are damaged in catarrhal esophagitis.

More often, the pathological process is diagnosed in men, which is explained by their tendency to drink alcohol and smoke. It is these factors that are the main irritants of the mucous membranes of the digestive organs.

Catarrhal reflux esophagitis: what is it, what are the symptoms and how to treat

Not everyone knows what it is - catarrhal reflux esophagitis - and how it differs from ordinary esophagitis. It is one of the varieties of this pathological process. Its development occurs as a result of the regular reflux of gastric or intestinal contents back into the esophagus. In a healthy person, in the absence of disorders and abnormalities in the functioning of the digestive system, the esophagus has an alkaline environment, and the contents of the stomach have an acidic environment, which has a detrimental effect on the upper gastrointestinal tract.

The patient is concerned about such symptoms with catarrhal reflux esophagitis:

indigestion;
chest pain;
heartburn.

As a result of regular spontaneous reflux of the contents of the stomach or intestines into the esophagus, its lower section is inevitably damaged. This process is accompanied by characteristic symptoms in the form of pain and heartburn. Another symptom that allows you to recognize the development of a digestive disorder is sour belching, bouts of nausea and vomiting. The characteristic symptoms of the disease make it possible to understand what catarrhal esophagitis is and how to treat it at different stages of development.

Forms of catarrhal esophagitis of the lower third of the esophagus

Most often, during the study of the organs of the digestive system, patients have catarrhal esophagitis of the lower third of the esophagus, it can be distal or terminal.

Catarrhal esophagitis occurs in two main forms:

acute, when the inflammatory process occurs with a sharp adverse effect, often this occurs when the mucous membrane is infected or injured;
chronic, when the mucous membrane has a constant influence of a pathological factor - the regular use of cold, hot, spicy, sour, salty, spicy, coarse food.

Catarrhal reflux esophagitis I, II, III and IV degree

This disease of the digestive system can have several degrees of severity with characteristic changes and its symptoms:

First degree. Catarrhal esophagitis of the 1st degree is characterized by the appearance of small localized foci of inflammation on the mucous membrane of the esophagus or stomach. There may be several or one with a diameter of up to 5 mm. At the 1st degree of catarrhal reflux esophagitis, the fusion of foci is not observed. Often at this stage of development, the pathology is asymptomatic.
Second degree. Several defective zones larger than 5 mm in diameter are noted. Over time, the course of the disease, the foci gradually merge, but at the same time they do not yet affect the entire mucosa. The first symptoms of catarrhal esophagitis of the 2nd degree are heartburn and burning pain behind the sternum.
Third degree. At this stage of the course of the inflammatory pathological process, damage to ¾ of the entire mucous membrane of the organ is noted. Symptoms of inflammation become more pronounced, and occur regardless of food intake.
Fourth stage. More than 75% of the mucosal surface is affected. At this stage of the course of the disease, such complications of the pathology as chronic ulcers or cicatricial strictures of the esophageal lumen often occur.

Causes of catarrhal-fibrous and other types of esophagitis

This type of pathological process of the digestive system can have various causes. Based on this, given the origin of the disease, the following types of it are distinguished:

Alimentary. This form of pathology occurs as a result of the abuse of alcohol, strong tea or coffee, spicy or sour foods, smoked meats, marinades, pickles, too hot and cold dishes and drinks, heavy and coarse foods.
stagnant. It usually develops against the background of the action on the mucous membrane of the esophagus of food debris.
Professional. This form of the disease is caused by the penetration into the organs of the digestive system of various aggressive substances with which a person comes into contact in production conditions. These irritants include acid vapors, iodine, caustic alkalis, salts of heavy metals.
Allergic. This type of inflammatory process can be caused by changes in the reactivity of the body. Often occurs in children against the background of bronchial asthma or food allergies.
fibrinous. Catarrhal-fibrinous esophagitis is accompanied by the formation of a fibrous film. Usually such a pathology develops against the background of the course of scarlet fever and diphtheria.
Alcoholic. With prolonged use of alcohol, burns occur on the mucous membrane, which also lead to such a violation as esophagitis. In this case, alcoholic catarrhal esophagitis is diagnosed.

In addition, catarrhal esophagitis of the stomach and esophagus can be caused by such reasons:

increased pressure inside the abdominal cavity, which occurs when large tumors form in the peritoneum, as well as during pregnancy;
surgical interventions aimed at removing part of the stomach or sewing in an ulcer;
long-term use of drugs that significantly weaken the protective properties of the digestive organs;
constant strong psycho-emotional experiences and stressful situations;
bacterial and viral infections.

Causes of catarrhal reflux esophagitis

Experts call the following causes of catarrhal reflux esophagitis:

increased intra-abdominal pressure as a result of wearing tight clothing, sharp torso forward immediately after eating, pregnancy and overweight;
weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter;
malnutrition;
some diseases of the digestive system;
scleroderma;
esophagogastrostomy, castrectomy.

Signs of catarrhal esophagitis in acute and moderate form

Acute esophagitis is characterized by a pronounced course. There are such signs of catarrhal esophagitis in the acute form of its course:

discomfort when swallowing food;
burning pain in the esophagus, increasing as food moves in it;
pain in the neck;
heartburn with sour unpleasant belching;
white coating on the surface of the tongue;
profuse salivation;
fever, chills, malaise.

The acute form of the disease can be complicated by abscesses, esophageal perforation, purulent mediastinitis, esophageal stricture, focal dysplasia.

In gastroenterology, specialists use a term such as "moderate catarrhal esophagitis" to refer to the form of this inflammatory process, which is relatively considered the norm and does not belong to the number of pathologies. As a rule, with such an inflammatory process, sparing nutrition is prescribed for 2-3 days, after which, in most cases, impaired digestive functions are restored without taking medications.

Signs of chronic catarrhal esophagitis

Chronic catarrhal esophagitis in most cases occurs against the background of an advanced acute form of this disease. However, in the presence of other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic catarrhal esophagitis may appear as an independent disease without an acute form preceding it.

The disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

soreness, discomfort and burning sensation behind the sternum, aggravated during meals;
pain and heartburn during physical exertion, regardless of the meal;
attacks of pain in the supine position, which radiate to the back, heart, neck;
belching, hiccups;
nausea, which often ends in vomiting;
profuse salivation;
respiratory dysfunction.

Alimentary chronic esophagitis occurs with the systematic use of food that irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive organs - hot, cold, spicy, salty, sour.

When examining the mucous membrane during the examination, it is loose, edematous, hyperemic, covered with mucus, has dilated veins, hemorrhagic rashes are observed.

Terminal and distal catarrhal esophagitis

There are two types of reflux esophagitis - distal and terminal. Terminal catarrhal esophagitis is mainly diagnosed in newborns who suffered asphyxia during childbirth. This form of the disease of the digestive tract is caused by a lack of oxygen supplied to the organs and tissues. The surface of the mucous membrane of the children's esophagus is covered with small erosive bleeding points.

With the progression of the pathological process, the following changes are observed:

the child refuses to eat;
regurgitates swallowed food;
there is a decrease in weight;
frequent hiccups;
poor and restless sleep due to pain and discomfort in the abdomen.

This form of reflux esophagitis can also develop in adults. The symptoms of the disease are similar for them - heartburn, belching, nausea, vomiting, pain and burning in the sternum. Nausea and vomiting are greatly aggravated in the supine position and during forward bending of the torso.

Distal catarrhal reflux esophagitis is characterized by damage to only one end of the esophagus, the inflammatory process is observed in that part that adjoins the stomach. Manifestations of the pathological process are especially enhanced when the patient assumes a horizontal position. Distal catarrhal esophagitis, as a rule, has an erased symptomatology, which often makes it difficult to diagnose and leads to neglect of the disease. In most cases, they learn about the development of pathology only after endoscopy and X-ray examination. The reason for visiting the specialist's office are complaints of weakness, frequent belching, nausea, dizziness, choking cough, hoarseness, pain and burning in the peritoneum.

Treatment of distal catarrhal esophagitis

Treatment of distal catarrhal esophagitis at the initial stage of the development of the disease is often limited to diet. By adjusting the diet, it is usually possible to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of distal esophagitis. Infants who have been diagnosed with such a pathology need special care. Babies with such a violation of the functioning of the digestive system immediately after feeding must be kept upright for at least three minutes. To reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms, it is strictly forbidden to feed lying down. During the treatment period, it is important to reduce the harmful effects of the contents on the esophagus that enter during gastric reflux.

With the regularity of symptoms, one diet will not be enough to restore the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. For a complete recovery, the doctor may prescribe such drugs:

Antispasmodics - No-shpa, Papaverine

Antacids - Rennie, Almagel, Maalox

Medicines that envelop the gastric mucosa - Solcoseryl, Alginate

Drugs that normalize the level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach - Omeprazole, Famotidine, Pantoprazole

The treatment regimen for each patient is selected by a specialist on an individual basis, taking into account the stage and severity of the course, concomitant diseases, age and causes of the development of the pathology. In addition to drug treatment, the simultaneous use of electrophoresis, the introduction of novocaine into the epigastric part of the stomach, laser therapy and electrical stimulation of the inner part of the esophagus are recommended.

If conservative treatment does not bring positive results, surgical intervention becomes inevitable. Surgery for reflux esophagitis is indicated in such situations:

tumor development in the esophagus;
bleeding and other complications of esophagitis;
aspiration chronic pneumonia.

Catarrhal-erosive reflux esophagitis: symptoms and how to treat

Catarrhal erosive esophagitis is considered by specialists in the field of gastroenterology as one of the stages of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The gastric contents consist of substances such as food clods, hydrochloric acid, mucus, digestive enzymes, and sometimes pancreatic juice and bile acid. The reflux of this gastric contents into the esophagus is called catarrhal reflux esophagitis.

Such a process can occur in an absolutely healthy person, but only with a frequency of no more than twice a day. If the problem is observed much more often, you should visit a specialist's office in order to examine and restore the impaired functions of the digestive system. Reflux lasts about 5 minutes, more often occurs during the daytime, which is caused by eating. Often a person does not even feel the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, as a result of which the disease becomes chronic.

If a patient was diagnosed with catarrhal reflux esophagitis during the diagnosis, its symptoms will differ depending on the form of the disease. There are non-erosive and erosive forms of the pathological process. In the case of the development of non-erosive reflux esophagitis, during an endoscopic examination, a specialist will detect signs of inflammation such as swelling and redness of the walls of the esophagus. With erosive esophagitis, in addition to redness and swelling, erosions of various lengths will also be noticed.

Symptoms of the disease depend on the degree of damage to the organ. Pathology can proceed in a latent form, which is dangerous for the patient, since in such cases esophagitis takes on a neglected form. However, most often the disease makes itself felt with pronounced symptoms, which gives a person uncomfortable and painful sensations. All clinical manifestations of erosive reflux esophagitis are conditionally divided into esophageal and extraesophageal. Usually, the signs make themselves felt after overeating, drinking alcohol, dietary errors, stress and physical activity.

Esophageal symptoms are:

heartburn - occurs in 75% of cases of the course of the disease;
intense salivation;
nausea, dizziness, vomiting attacks;
bitter and sour belching;
an unpleasant taste in the mouth in the morning, usually bitter or sour;
problems with swallowing food, resulting from the fact that the esophagus is reduced.

With the development of erosive gastroesophageal disease, the patient experiences burning pain in the epigastric region. Often a person confuses the pain of esophagitis with a heart attack, heart pain and angina pectoris. Soon the pain spreads to the neck, chest and the area between the shoulder blades. All of these symptoms are classic. They can appear in combination or separately.

Extra-esophageal signs of reflux esophagitis are also distinguished, which do not indicate the development of this disease, and often a person does not even suspect the existence of problems with the digestive system. These signs include hoarseness of the voice, a sensation of a lump in the throat, which persists for a long time, the formation of ulcers and granulomas on the vocal cords. The patient coughs for a long time with the release of sputum and mucus, sometimes asthma attacks may occur, in some cases inflammation of the gums occurs, damage to tooth enamel is much less common. Sometimes patients complain of feeling a slight pain in the lower part of the oral cavity, a slight disturbance of the heart rhythm may occur. Usually, close people notice the patient has bad breath. Erosive reflux esophagitis is often accompanied by vomiting with blood impurities.

Treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis should be started as early as possible. First of all, gastroenterologists recommend that all patients make lifestyle changes, review their diet, and proper nutrition plays an important role in therapy. In most cases, the restoration of the functions of the digestive system is impossible without the use of special medications. In extremely difficult situations, when the disease was neglected or complicated by other pathologies, an operation becomes inevitable. Mostly, the treatment of the erosive form of gastroesophageal disease is carried out on an outpatient basis under the strict supervision of the attending physician. In severe cases, hospitalization of the patient in a medical facility is required.

Mandatory is drug therapy, which implies the use of two directions. In the first direction, rather powerful effective drugs are first prescribed, but over time, the intensity of treatment with medications decreases. The second strategy, on the contrary, is an increase in the pharmacological effect.

In the presence of erosions on the mucous membrane of the esophagus, drugs with antisecretory action are prescribed. Such medicines reduce the intensity of the secretion process in the stomach. As a result of taking such drugs, acidity decreases and the irritating effect of gastric contents on the mucous membrane is eliminated. These drugs include proton pump inhibitors. It also requires the intake of H-2 blockers and M-anticholinergics. The duration of therapy with these drugs is determined by a specialist for each patient individually, but it lasts at least a month.

How to treat catarrhal reflux esophagitis of an erosive form? Therapy for erosive reflux esophagitis also consists in taking prokinetics. Medications such as domperidone, metoclopramide can be prescribed, they improve motor skills. To neutralize the action of hydrochloric acid, alginates and antacids are prescribed.

Distal catarrhal reflux esophagitis in cardia insufficiency

Insufficiency of the cardia of the stomach is a violation of the input sphincter. With the development of such a pathological process, reflux occurs, which is considered by gastroenterologists as a complication of cardia insufficiency.

In a healthy state of the stomach, the cardia passes food into the gastric cavity with minimal pressure. In order for food to pass in the right direction, the pressure should not exceed 3.5 mm Hg. When reflux esophagitis occurs, the pressure rises 20 times. Such a high level is formed as a result of fermentation and overeating.

Insufficiency of the cardia in catarrhal esophagitis occurs in the presence of such factors:

systematic overeating;
being overweight;
chronic form of gastritis;
sedentary lifestyle;
eating before bed.

Catarrhal reflux esophagitis with cardia insufficiency has the following manifestations:

burning pain in the esophagus;
constant heartburn;
belching with the smell of stomach contents;
frequent vomiting.

Catarrhal reflux esophagitis against the background of insufficiency of the cardia can be treated with a balanced diet. In this case, it implies compliance with the diet and small portions. While eating, do not rush, and after a meal it is not recommended to take a lying position for an hour, it is better to sit or walk. With such a diagnosis, liquid cereals and low-fat soups should be included in the diet.

Therapy for distal catarrhal reflux esophagitis in cardia insufficiency is based on the following principles:

first of all, measures are taken to cure the underlying disease that caused the development of cardia insufficiency;
if you are overweight, you should get rid of it;
with ascites, it is important to reduce intra-abdominal pressure;
strict adherence to a diet prescribed by a specialist.

Diagnosis "Catarrhal reflux esophagitis of focal form"

Focal catarrhal reflux esophagitis is a type of disease in which the mucous membrane of the esophagus is irritated by gastric juice in the form of foci of various sizes. A burning sensation behind the sternum, discomfort and pain when swallowing are the main symptoms of such a pathological process. Soon, heartburn and a feeling of acid in the mouth join these primary signs.

In gastroenterology, the following forms of focal gastroesophageal disease are distinguished:

Acute. Accompanied by acute pain behind the sternum during meals. The acute form of the disease is also manifested by a violation of the swallowing process and general malaise.
Catarrhal. It is characterized by swelling and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. When swallowing, the patient experiences unbearable pain and a feeling of the presence of a foreign object in the throat.
Erosive. It is considered a complicated form of the disease, when ulcers begin to form on the mucous membrane.

An X-ray study is required to confirm the diagnosis of catarrhal esophagitis of focal form. With this diagnostic method, irregularities, focal dysplasia, accumulation of mucus and swelling of the folds will be detected.

In the diagnosis of the disease, a method such as esophagoscopy is also used. During this study, specialists manage to establish hyperemia of the esophageal mucosa, the presence of exudate and pustules, small hemorrhages and erosion. With the help of esophagomanometry, it is possible to establish motility disorders in the esophagus.

How to treat superficial catarrhal esophagitis and gastroduodenitis

In this form of complicated catarrhal reflux, bile produced by the liver is released into the digestive organs. The reason for the development of this pathological process is a malfunction in the functioning of the sphincters.

How to treat superficial catarrhal esophagitis and gastroduodenitis, or gastroduodenal reflux? When making an accurate diagnosis, specialists prescribe a treatment consisting of basic therapy and diet therapy. To achieve positive results, it is recommended to use two methods of therapy simultaneously.

Distal catarrhal esophagitis with cylinder cell metaplasia: signs and treatment

Cylindrical cell metaplasia of the esophagus can lead to the development of catarrhal reflux esophagitis. In gastroenterology, this pathological process is also known as "Barrett's syndrome" or "Barrett's esophagus".

Cylindrocellular metaplasia of the esophagus is a spasm representing a failure of the pathological process of the digestive system. It is characterized by pinching of the squamous epithelium by cylindrical cells. As a result of such a violation, they begin to break down under the action of highly acidic juice. In 25% of patients, this pathology is asymptomatic; in other cases, the disease manifests itself with smoothed symptoms.

Signs of distal catarrhal esophagitis with cylindric metaplasia are as follows:

burning behind the sternum;
regular belching with a sour taste and an unpleasant odor, which manifests itself soon after eating;
nausea and vomiting after eating, at a late stage of the course of the disease, blood impurities are observed in the vomit;
violation of the swallowing reflex, which is accompanied by uncomfortable and painful sensations;
retrosternal pain radiating to the neck and jaw.

Sometimes there may be non-esophageal symptoms - hoarseness, sore throat and a feeling of dryness in it, cough.

Catarrhal distal esophagitis and metaplasia are treated by taking medications that prevent the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Treatment of catarrhal esophagitis and cylindrical metaplasia is carried out with medicines from the following pharmacological groups:

Antacids - Phosphalugel, Maalox, Gastal, Omeprazole

Proton pump inhibitors:

"Pantoprazole"

"Famotidine"

"Alfogel" and"Betamax"

"Gastratsid"

Prokinetics - "Ganaton", "Motilium", "Motilak"

Treatment of symptoms of catarrhal esophagitis with metaplasia is carried out only at the initial stages of the development of pathology or before surgery.

It is not always possible to get rid of the foci of Barrett's syndrome with a conservative method; an operation may be necessary to remove them. It can be done in several ways:

laser removal. At the first stage, a low-frequency laser beam is used to remove the cylindrical epithelium.
Photodynamic therapy. The destruction of metaplasia is carried out by exposure to light of a certain wavelength using photosensitizers.
Fundoplication. This technique consists in suturing the fundus of the stomach to the diaphragm in order to create an acute angle with the esophagus. This therapy eliminates the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.
Free surgery. During the operation, the affected area of the esophagus is removed. Such manipulations are indicated for the maximum and irreversible progression of the pathology.

Treatment of catarrhal reflux esophagitis of an infectious nature is carried out with the help of antibacterial and antiviral drugs, depending on the infectious agent.

Diet for catarrhal reflux esophagitis: sample menu

The basis for the treatment of acute and chronic catarrhal reflux esophagitis is diet therapy. The diet for catarrhal esophagitis is based on the following principles and rules:

The frequency of meals should be 5-6 times a day. Food should be taken every 3-4 hours.
You can only eat freshly prepared food.
It is strictly forbidden to drink food with water or other liquid.
It is necessary to exclude the use of foods that stimulate the production of gastric juice - chocolate, coffee, fatty broths, cabbage, fresh fruits and tea.
You must stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
The meal should not be carried out later than two hours before bedtime.

Almost all patients with the development of this disorder of the digestive system are prescribed dietary table No. 1 for the duration of treatment. A diet for catarrhal reflux esophagitis can be built on the following foods and dishes:

mashed potatoes;
green soft vegetables;
bananas, applesauce;
liquid cereals from white and brown rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, semolina, barley;
egg whites;
lean meat, chicken;
soups, broths;
water, weak tea.

Approximately the diet menu has the following option:

Breakfast: a glass of green or weak black tea or kefir, porridge with fruit.

The disease, known in medicine as esophagitis, is an inflammation of the walls of the esophagus caused by reflux of gastric juice or some other factors. Distal catarrhal esophagitis is one of the varieties of this disease.

When it affects the lower part of the esophagus - the one that borders on the stomach. And the lesion itself is superficial and is characterized by the absence of erosion.

The catarrhal form is considered the easiest, and it is not as difficult to cure it as others. It is acute and chronic. There are also four stages of the disease, depending on the area of \u200b\u200bthe affected tissues. The latter can vary from one or two lesions to 75% of the entire mucosa of the lower esophagus.

Provoking factors and risk groups

Often, distal catarrhal esophagitis develops against the background of insufficiency of the cardia (the muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach and prevents the backflow of juice from the latter to the former). When this valve ceases to function normally, problems begin. Gastric juice regularly entering the esophagus injures the delicate mucous membrane, and painful processes begin in it.

The causes of muscle dysfunction can be different - from congenital anomalies to ailments of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the factors provoking the development of catarrhal esophagitis of the distal type include:

Particularly susceptible to the disease are people suffering from obesity, gastritis or ulcers; working in hazardous production (for example, chemical); having low immunity and a body weakened due to other ailments. Also at risk are pregnant women. In the latter, due to the growing uterus, the internal organs are deformed, which causes violations of the digestive process.

Distal catarrhal esophagitis: symptoms and treatment

A feature of this type of ailment is that with it often there are no symptoms for a long time, and the treatment of distal catarrhal esophagitis therefore does not start on time. A person does not even suspect the development of the disease, and when the manifestations are already on the face, the situation is quite neglected. This happens about 40 percent of the time. In the remaining 60, distal catarrhal esophagitis may be indicated by:

heartburn (especially after eating and when bending over);
dry exhausting cough up to asthma attacks;
hoarse voice;
white coating on the tongue;
pain behind the sternum, similar to heart or stomach;
discomfort when swallowing;
high fatigue, general malaise.

The last symptom is especially characteristic of the chronic form, when the body is already pretty exhausted by the disease and spends a lot of energy fighting it. In acute esophagitis, burning pains in the esophagus, vomiting (sometimes with blood), irritability, fever, chills may appear. Medical help is needed urgently.

Distal catarrhal esophagitis: drug treatment

With distal catarrhal esophagitis, treatment is usually conservative. Surgery is extremely rare. But the process should be taken seriously. You can't do without medicines.

The system of taking drugs is determined by the doctor. It depends on the age of the patient, his individual characteristics and the degree of neglect of the disease. The default schema looks like this:

The course of drug treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the presence of complications. But, since the catarrhal form is not considered complex, it is usually possible to cure it quite quickly - in a month. The main condition is to strictly adhere to the scheme prescribed by the doctor.

Alternative treatment

Most likely, our grandmothers, having heard about distal catarrhal esophagitis, will not be able to explain what it is. But many of them know how to treat this disease with folk methods passed down from generation to generation. Here are some effective ways:

Folk methods in the treatment of even such a simple form of distal esophagitis as catarrhal can only be used as additional ones. They cannot replace medicines. The use of any of the prescriptions should be agreed with the doctor.

Useful video

Heartburn is one of the symptoms of the disease. If you don’t know how to alleviate the condition, choose the right products, as this interesting video will tell you.

Physiotherapy, diet, lifestyle

Used in the treatment of distal catarrhal esophagitis and physiotherapy methods. In many cases, they help to stop the symptoms, stabilize the condition, and even ensure the regression of the disease. The most common direction is balneotherapy(treatment with mineral waters). Sometimes applied amplipulse therapy and short-pulse electrical nerve stimulation aimed at eliminating cardia insufficiency.

Diet is extremely important in distal catarrhal esophagitis. From the diet, you should exclude food that can injure or irritate the walls of the esophagus, as well as provoke digestion difficulties (spicy, hot, sweet, sour, salty, baking, carbonated water, alcohol, fried, fatty, smoked, beans, cabbage, coffee).

The menu should have a lot of foods rich in carbohydrates and fiber ( pasta, porridge, vegetables, lean meats and fish, yeast-free bread, eggs, fermented milk products). You need to eat fractionally - often, but little by little.

As for the lifestyle, it will also have to be adjusted. It is recommended to abandon tight-fitting clothing - nothing should press. It is necessary to allocate enough time for sleep and just rest (preferably sleep on 2 pillows). After eating, go for a walk and overcome at least a short distance with a leisurely step (but it is strongly not recommended to go to bed). And, of course, a complete rejection of bad habits.

In the treatment of distal catarrhal esophagitis, the most important thing is an integrated approach. Medicines, folk methods, diet, proper lifestyle will help you quickly cope with the disease and forget about it forever. Violation of the system, failure to follow the doctor's recommendations are fraught with serious complications - from more complex forms of this disease to diseases that pose a direct threat to life.

Article content:

Catarrhal esophagitis is an inflammatory disease in which the mucous membrane of the esophagus is affected, it swells, hyperemia develops. Hyperemia is the overflow of the vessels of an organ or area of the body with blood. This disease develops due to the fact that there is a long-term physical or chemical irritation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus.

About the disease

Due to the action of various factors, the patient's epithelial cells are affected. But the disease affects only the upper layers, the submucosal and muscle tissues remain intact. White blood cells are needed to repair damaged cells. When they accumulate in one place (in this case, on the esophageal mucosa), they release inflammatory mediators. Because of them, the walls of the vessels begin to pass blood, not all, but some part. The nearest tissues are impregnated with it, they change color, turn red. Prostaglandins are released, it is because of them that the patient develops swelling, there is a feeling of soreness.

Causes of the disease

Why does catarrhal esophagitis occur? There are many reasons that lead to the development of this disease. Consider the most common.

Errors in nutrition

Many diseases, including esophagitis, occur due to malnutrition:

the person ate a lot of coarse or heavy food;
preferred something sour, pickled, smoked or peppered;
constantly eating too hot or too cold dishes;
abused alcohol;
he constantly drank too strong tea or coffee.

Exposure to aggressive substances

Often the cause of the onset of the disease can be exposure to various chemicals, for example, acid fumes, caustic alkalis, moles of heavy metals. In some cases, the disease can also occur due to hydrochloric acid. With gastroesophageal reflux disease, the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus and irritate its mucosa. Sometimes this happens with severe vomiting or prolonged intubation of the patient. There is also congestive esophagitis, which occurs because food debris accumulates in the lumen of the esophagus and irritates it.

Various diseases

We have already mentioned that GERD can be the cause of catarrhal esophagitis, but this is not the only disease that leads to mucosal damage. Sometimes it can be a manifestation of various infectious diseases, such as scarlet fever or diphtheria.

Sometimes the disease is a consequence of gastritis or gastroenteritis and other diseases. A person's well-being can also be affected by gastric resection or sewing in of an ulcer, oncological diseases and pregnancy. After such an operation, gastric juice is regularly thrown into the lower part of the esophagus, which causes inflammation.

In addition, an allergic type is distinguished, which is especially common in children suffering from food allergies or bronchial asthma. Sometimes the lining of the esophagus is damaged during an endoscopic examination.
Separately, it is worth mentioning patients with immunodeficiency, which may appear after organ or tissue transplantation, after radiation therapy, treatment with cytostatic drugs, and so on. Then inflammation can be caused by various viruses, fungi, for example, influenza, herpes, fungi of the genus Candida.

Types of catarrhal esophagitis

Catarrhal esophagitis can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation appears if there was a sharp impact on the human body of any adverse factor, for example, there was a mucosal injury. The chronic form occurs in patients who every day for a long time faced with a pathological factor, for example, they constantly ate coarse food, preferred peppered dishes, marinades and smoking. Sometimes the disease becomes chronic, as acute esophagitis has not been cured. But the disease can also appear due to other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
There are several forms of this disease:

Catarrhal reflux esophagitis. It develops due to the fact that gastric contents enter the mucosa of the esophagus. The cause of reflux may be insufficiency of the sphincter or diaphragmatic hernia of the esophagus. Most often, this form of the disease affects either pregnant women or overweight people.
Distal catarrhal esophagitis. Only the lower part of the esophagus, located next to the stomach, becomes inflamed.
Catarrhal terminal esophagitis. This disease is most common in newborns who suffered from oxygen deficiency in the womb, or after asphyxia. In this case, erosion and small hemorrhages appear on the mucosa of the esophagus.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of the disease can be different, they depend on the form of the disease.

acute form

If the patient has acute esophagitis, then the symptoms are especially bright, strongly pronounced:

discomfort that appears when swallowing food, severe pain when food passes through the esophagus;
neck hurts;
the patient has profuse salivation, severe heartburn with belching;
the tongue is covered with a whitish coating;
the state of health deteriorates sharply, fever and severe chills may appear.

The illness can last for several days or several weeks.

Chronic form

The chronic form of the disease can be recognized by the following symptoms:

patients complain of discomfort and pain that appears in the retrosternal space and intensifies after eating. Pain can disturb at any time, and not only during meals, especially during physical exertion, or in the supine position;
the patient has severe heartburn, belching, hiccups, profuse salivation;
nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms are mild. The disease can last for several weeks, and several months, and even several years, the patient periodically experiences exacerbations.

Reflux esophagitis

Symptoms of reflux esophagitis are severe heartburn, as well as sour belching. There is a sour taste in the mouth, as well as pain.

Distal esophagitis

With this form of the disease, inflammation of the lower third of the esophagus is diagnosed, this is expressed by the following symptoms:

the patient has pain in the stomach and chest;
worried about heartburn, often nauseous, sometimes vomiting;
the patient coughs violently, his voice becomes hoarse and hoarse;
the patient's body is greatly weakened, he himself is often irritable;
after some time, heartburn and belching make themselves felt, when the patient lies down, chest pains begin to disturb.

In some patients (in 40% of cases) this disease is asymptomatic.

terminal form

The terminal form is more often diagnosed in young children, and the following symptoms may indicate the disease:

the baby hiccups strongly and often;
he is constantly spitting up or he has gushing vomiting;
the child does not sleep well, as he is disturbed by pain;
over time, he loses a lot of weight.

Adults have similar symptoms: severe pain in the chest, especially if the patient lies down, belching appears, constantly nauseous, vomits, the tongue is covered with a whitish coating.

The degree of development of the disease

There are several degrees of development of this disease:

1 degree. On the mucous membrane of the patient there is one or 2-3 foci of inflammation, but they are small in size, up to 5 mm in diameter. There are no symptoms at this stage.
2 degree. The defective zones are already larger in diameter (exceed 5 mm), they merge into one, but the entire mucosa is not yet affected. The patient begins to complain of retrosternal pain and heartburn.
3 degree. In this case, most of the mucosa (¾) is affected, the symptoms of the disease appear more clearly and do not depend on food intake.
4 degree. More than 75% of the mucosa has become inflamed, chronic ulcers and other complications may appear.

Diagnostics

If you have the above symptoms, you should contact a gastroenterologist who will prescribe treatment. With inflammation of the esophageal mucosa, a diagnosis can also be made on the basis of the signs of the disease. But you still can’t do without an examination:

Esophagoscopy. This is the most informative method. The endoscopist will examine the mucosa of the esophagus and be able to detect hyperemia or swelling. But this examination is not recommended for the acute phase of the disease, since it is possible to further injure the mucosa. At the same time, a biopsy is also performed so that the doctor can accurately diagnose, excluding cancer.
X-ray of the esophagus. This examination is not very informative, but sometimes it is still carried out to see the swelling of the mucosal folds or uneven contours. It also helps to detect cancer or narrowing of the esophagus.
Esophageal manometry. Needed to study the motility of the esophagus.
Intraesophageal pH-metry. It is this study that will help detect gastroesophageal reflux, determine its duration and frequency.

Treatment

How to treat esophagitis? The doctor selects the treatment individually. Here it is very important to establish the cause of the onset of the disease, and try to eliminate the unfavorable factor that contributed to the development of the disease.

The patient must go on a diet. All dishes must be boiled or steamed, and then ground, served to the patient in pureed form. The amount of salt is limited, spices are excluded. The patient must adhere to diet number 1. You need to eat often, every 3 hours. He is allowed only warm dishes, everything hot and cold is excluded. Overeating is also not recommended.

Treatment also includes medication. What exactly to write out, the doctor decides. But most often it is recommended to drink antacids, drugs that stabilize the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, as well as alginators that protect the walls from hydrochloric acid. Various medical procedures can also be prescribed, for example, direct current stimulation of the sphincter. If conservative treatment fails, the patient has a precancerous condition or persistent bleeding, in this case, an operation is prescribed.

Catarrhal esophagitis, if started, can cause serious complications: purulent inflammation, cicatricial stenosis, wall perforation. Therefore, it is advisable to start treatment immediately. If you see a doctor in time, the prognosis is favorable.

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The upper layers of the mucous membrane of the esophageal wall, under certain negative factors, can become inflamed, which is called esophagitis. The most common form of this disease is catarrhal, in which the nature of the lesion is moderate, not accompanied by deep destruction of the tissues of the organ and damage to the submucosa. Depending on the localization, the disease can be distal, proximal and total, when the lower section, the upper section and the entire organ are affected, respectively. The article will consider distal catarrhal esophagitis: what it is, the causes of development, the clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment methods. This form is also called reflux esophagitis.

Short description

Distal catarrhal reflux esophagitis often develops with cardia insufficiency, when gastric contents (gastric juice, bile) enter the esophagus, constantly irritating the mucous membrane. This occurs against the background of infectious diseases or other factors. In most cases, the pathology is combined with HH, which stands for hiatal hernia. The disease is characterized mainly by a chronic course, but the sharp influence of a certain aggressive factor causes an acute form. According to statistics, a greater percentage of morbidity is diagnosed in men, the causes of which are smoking and alcohol abuse. And these are factors that are among the first irritants of such an organ as the esophagus.

Forms of pathology

Classification of the disease according to the nature of the course:

chronic, developing as a result of a long-term negative effect on the mucosa of a certain pathological factor, for example, mechanically rough, very hot or excessively cold food, and the like;
acute, arising due to the sharp action of an unfavorable factor, which may be infection, trauma to the mucous membrane of an organ, and so on.

Classification by provoking factor:

allergic type that occurs under the influence of allergens;
infectious caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses;
alimentary, in which the provoking factor is improper and irrational consumption of food;
stagnant, developing under the influence of food debris in the lumen of the organ;
professional, which appears when aggressive substances enter the esophagus, for example, alkaline, acidic, etc.

Degrees of development

There are several degrees of severity of catarrhal distal reflux esophagitis:

I degree, characterized by local foci of inflammation, present in a small amount, no larger than five centimeters in size, their fusion, as well as symptoms, is absent;
II degree, in which the percentage of damage to the mucous wall is from 10 to 15 percent, the size of the defective zones is more than five centimeters, they begin to gradually merge with each other, at this stage the first signs appear in the form of pain, burning and heartburn, and sometimes pathological exudate;
III degree is characterized by the defeat of about half of the mucous membrane with the fusion of erosive foci in some areas, at this stage, tissue necrosis and the severity of symptoms may already appear, regardless of food intake;
IV degree, when more than 75 percent of the mucosa is affected, and the inflammatory foci are completely merged, complications appear, such as chronic ulcers, narrowing of the lumen, and tissue necrosis.

Causes

The main factor causing the pathological condition is malnutrition, which consists in an excessive passion for sour, pickled and rough foods, drinking a large amount of carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol. This factor is classified as chemical, along with the negative impact on the esophagus of alkalis and acids. There is also a thermal factor, which consists in the systematic receipt of burns of the mucous membrane due to the regular use of very hot food and drinks. There are also endogenous factors, that is, internal ones, such as cardia insufficiency, duodeno-gastric and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Other reasons for the development of pathology can be injuries of the esophagus, infections of various kinds, prolonged very severe heartburn.

Clinical picture

The characteristic symptoms of the disease are as follows:

pain in the chest region, which at the beginning of the development of the pathology is not strong, aching in nature;
heartburn;
cough, characterized by paroxysmal character;
belching with a sour taste;
nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting;
whitish coating on the tongue, which does not always appear;
hoarse, hoarse voice.

It is noteworthy that in about thirty percent of cases this disease has an asymptomatic course.

Diagnostic measures

The most effective diagnostic method is esophagoscopy, which allows you to identify foci of swelling and hyperemia. In addition, radiography with a contrast agent, fibrogastroscopy, examination for a pH environment, radionuclide scanning, computed or magnetic resonance imaging may be prescribed.

The essence of the treatment

The most important condition for the treatment of catarrhal distal esophagitis in the initial forms is the observance of a special diet. Most often this is table number one according to Pevzner. The therapy also includes the use of drugs to eliminate heartburn, painkillers, as well as drugs that help envelop the mucosa.

Vitamins, traditional medicine recipes are included, among which infusions with medicinal herbs that have anti-inflammatory effects (oak bark, calendula, chamomile), sea buckthorn oil and others are especially effective. The treatment is supplemented with physiotherapeutic procedures (laser endoscopy, electrophoresis with novocaine, oxygen exposure, etc.). If the disease is in an advanced stage (regular bleeding, precancerous stage) and the methods of conservative medicine are ineffective, then they resort to surgical intervention.