Distal catarrhal reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus resulting from long-term physical or chemical effects on its mucosa. Such effects include the use of spicy and rough foods, coffee, alcohol, hot drinks, etc. But most often reflux esophagitis occurs due to the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.

Signs of manifestation of the disease

The mucous membrane of the esophagus is not able to withstand the constant reflux of an aggressive environment, which is gastric juice. After a while, the distal esophagus becomes inflamed.

Reflux esophagitis has the following symptoms:

• dull pain behind the sternum;
• heartburn;
• belching;
• regurgitation of mucus;
• dysphagia;
• salivation;
• difficulty swallowing;
• cough.

Reflux esophagitis, not detected and not cured in time, can lead to malignant tumors. In this disease, according to the severity, 4 stages can be distinguished. At the 1st stage, point erosive damage occurs on the walls of the esophagus. The disease is not outwardly manifested in any way, there may be a periodic occurrence of a feeling of some discomfort behind the sternum. At the 2nd stage, point erosions merge, heartburn often appears, discomfort behind the sternum increases. The 3rd stage is characterized by an even greater increase in the disease: extensive erosive formation, frequent pain, heartburn, and nausea appear. The most difficult is the 4th stage of the disease, in which catarrhal reflux esophagitis is accompanied by gastritis or esophageal ulcer, there is a risk of tumors.

Diagnosis and treatment of catarrhal reflux esophagitis

To make an accurate diagnosis that reflux esophagitis is taking place, the doctor conducts a complete examination of the esophagus and takes an anamnesis. A doctor receives a lot of information about clinical symptoms from a personal conversation with a patient.

But a complete picture of the disease emerges after an internal examination of the patient's esophagus using an esophagoscope. Distal esophagitis can only be detected by fibrogastroscopic examination.

Reflux esophagitis is treated:

• diet therapy;
• drug therapy;
• getting rid of bad habits;
• surgical intervention.

An important place in the treatment is diet therapy. Food should be gentle in terms of preparation and composition. Spicy, salty, hot dishes are completely removed. Reflux esophagitis requires the complete exclusion of alcohol and smoking.

Drug therapy includes the use of drugs of the antacid group, which have an enveloping effect.

This can significantly reduce the manifestation of some clinical signs of this disease. These drugs include: Maalox, Almagel, Phospholugel, etc. A doctor can prescribe prokinetics that increase the tone of the lower gastric sphincter.

Patients with reflux esophagitis need to limit themselves in sudden movements associated with forward bending of the torso, tension in the abdominal muscles, and lifting weights. This all contributes to the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.

Surgical intervention is indicated only in exceptional cases, with the last stage of the disease.

Thus, the disease distal reflux esophagitis is successfully treated with all the prescriptions and recommendations of a specialist, a proper diet and a healthy lifestyle.

The digestive system reacts quickly to any adverse changes. Stomach problems, whether it be gastritis, bulbitis, or even simple heartburn, need to be addressed in the early stages. No matter how unpleasant the procedure of gastroscopy may seem, it is necessary to carry it out.

Catarrhal esophagitis is an unpleasant and in some cases dangerous disease of the esophagus. Symptoms of it are not always possible to recognize in time to start treating, and then the disease can take a chronic form.

Leakage

Esoffagitis

The disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. As a result, a person experiences severe discomfort, pain and a feeling that there is a lump in the throat.

The inflammatory process can have a different location, covering the entire esophagus as a whole or only the end that closes with the stomach. This is revealed during gastroscopy. The second case entered medicine as distal esophagitis.

Often the patient assumes that he has gastritis, and begins to self-medicate (including folk remedies), which cannot be done. Gastritis and esophagitis are different diseases and require different treatment. Often gastritis is the cause of inflammation of the esophageal mucosa. In any case, gastroscopy is inevitable.

Forms

Reflux esophagitis

Sharp form. It develops in the case of a single exposure to an aggressive factor. It can be hot or spicy food, badly chewed food. The cause is often such a phenomenon as reflux - the release of acidic stomach contents. As a result, the disease can develop into a chronic one.

Chronic form. It develops due to constant exposure to the mucous membrane. In this case, treatment is necessary. Do not rely on other people's advice on the treatment of folk remedies, otherwise complications are possible, up to esophageal cancer.

Bulbitis and esophagitis

This is what a bulbit looks like

Bulbitis, an inflammation of the duodenal bulb, also has similar symptoms. Bulbitis can begin with similar exposure factors (infection, heavy food), but some symptoms are different.

The main difference that bulbite highlights is bitterness in the mouth and with vomiting, as well as severe headaches. Painful sensations are given to the navel. Bulbitis can be diagnosed during gastroscopy.

It is impossible to treat bulbitis, as well as catarrhal esophagitis. A diet and medication course is needed, which may be accompanied by folk remedies approved by a doctor.

Reasons for development

There are many reasons for problems with the esophagus. In addition to malnutrition (spicy, fatty, low-quality food), in general, they are all divided into two types: physiological and mechanical.

Physiological:

Mechanical:

• Physical activity immediately after eating.
• A foreign object that is swallowed and remains in the esophagus (for example, a fish bone).

Symptoms can develop when harsh chemicals or drugs enter the esophagus.

Symptoms

Sometimes catarrhal esophagitis does not manifest itself for a significant period of time. Already with the development of a significant lesion, symptoms begin to appear.

Esophagitis is characterized by aching pain in the abdomen and sternum. They occur during meals or immediately after meals. Pain may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Burning sensation in the sternum, heartburn, soreness in the throat.
• Pain in the chest.
• Salivation in response to reflux.
• Sour burp.
• Nausea, lump in throat.

Distal esophagitis during gastroscopy is characterized by changes in the mucosa: usually pale pink, it becomes scarlet. Noticeable hyperemia (inflammation) of tissues, increased vascular pattern.

Erosive type

Erosive esophagitis. Constant exposure to an irritant and lack of treatment leads to the development of an erosive form. The cause is often regular reflux, as a result of which the mucous membrane is damaged. Erosion can lead to bleeding and the development of a malignant tumor.

Hemorrhagic esophagitis. This form of the disease often develops with infectious or viral lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Its main manifestation is hemorrhage into the walls of the esophagus. With gastroscopy, bloody sores are observed. Inflammation is much stronger, up to exfoliation of the mucosa. A lump of exfoliated tissue comes out along with hematemesis.

Diagnostics

Conducting gastroscopy

The appearance of the first symptoms is a sign that it is time to see a doctor. He finds out from the patient all the details of the manifestation of the disease, the characteristic symptoms and identifies possible causes for their further elimination.

It is determined whether reflux, cardia insufficiency and other pathologies are present. The condition of the esophagus is assessed using gastroscopy and x-ray. This allows you to clarify the diagnosis and find out if gastritis or bulbitis is present.

Based on the extensive data obtained, the specialist makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment.

Treatment

It is necessary to treat distal esophagitis comprehensively, taking into account the severity of the disease. Treatment of the disease begins with the fact that the diet and a number of drugs are determined. It is also advised to accompany the course with proven folk remedies.

Diet

Diet for esophagitis

Diet for esophagitis involves:

• Meals in small portions, five to six times a day.
• Fried, spicy, salty, sour and fatty foods that adversely affect the condition of the inflamed mucosa are completely excluded.
• Alcohol, soda, coffee and strong tea are also excluded.

If the diet is carefully followed throughout the course, the treatment will be much more effective.

Medications

A well-designed diet will improve the condition of the esophagus, but it will not be possible to do without drugs. Treatment can be started only after a thorough examination and identification of the mechanism of the disease.

Usually, distal esophagitis is treated with several types of medications.

Drugs for the treatment of esophagitis

• If inflammation caused reflux, antacids are prescribed: Rennie, Almagel or Malooks.
• Alginates are drugs that prevent the reflux of gastric contents. They are also needed when reflux is diagnosed. An example is Gaviscon.
• Pain is relieved by antispasmodics. But if there is insufficiency of the cardia, such drugs are contraindicated.
• Drugs that improve the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract. This is Motilium, Cerucal. With their reception, a lump in the throat passes; help if there is a weak motility of the cardia.
• If the cause of inflammation is gastritis or an infection of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment is prescribed to eliminate the disease. These can be antibiotics, antimicrobial and enzyme preparations.

Diet and medication can be accompanied by a vitamin course to strengthen the immune system and increase the tone of the body. Distal esophagitis can also be cured with folk remedies, which are used in combination.

Folk remedies

Usually folk remedies are herbal decoctions.

chamomile decoction

Decoctions of chamomile and calendula have an anti-inflammatory effect, soothe irritation, and eliminate a lump in the throat. Enveloping action has a decoction of flax seed. It relieves symptoms such as a lump in the throat, heartburn. It is also useful to use sea buckthorn oil and a decoction of oak bark in the treatment of esophagitis.

As you can see, the complex treatment of catarrhal esophagitis includes three main components: diet, medication and exposure to folk remedies. Such a trio can quickly cope with damage to the esophageal mucosa and return it to normal.

With long-term physical or chemical irritation of the esophageal mucosa, a person may develop catarrhal esophagitis. This pathology is characterized by acute and chronic course.
Acute esophagitis, as a rule, is the result of a sharp effect of an aggressive agent on the mucosa of the esophagus, and the chronic form of the disease develops due to its constant effect on the esophagus.

Causes of acute and chronic catarrhal esophagitis

In the event that a person regularly consumes coarse or poorly chewed food, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, or foods high in acids and alkalis, this can cause the development of catarrhal esophagitis. Sometimes an acute form of the pathological process occurs due to achalasia of the esophagus (that is, a failure in its motor activity), stenosis or insufficiency that violates the protective mechanisms of the mucous membrane. However, the cause of an acute illness can be a tumor in the abdominal cavity, pregnancy and other factors that increase intra-abdominal pressure.

Causes of distal catarrhal esophagitis

Catarrhal esophagitis is a pathological condition that is detected only during the process. This disease occurs due to various infectious lesions, and reflux of gastric juice mixed with bile into the esophagus.
In clinical practice, this pathology is called catarrhal reflux esophagitis, or gastrophageal reflux disease.

Note: the pathological process may develop after surgery on the stomach due to a violation of the contractility of its cardiac section.

Inadequate or untimely treatment of catarrhal esophagitis can provoke the development of it or an ulcerative form.

Symptoms of the catarrhal form of esophagitis

• Dull pain in the esophagus after eating or difficulty swallowing;
• Heartburn and belching;
• Burning sensation or soreness in the retrosternal region during the meal;
• Salivation (drooling);
• Spitting up mucus.

In some cases, the pain radiates to the interscapular area (in this case, the patient is required to have a differential diagnosis with cardiovascular pathology), and is also given to the jaw or neck.

Symptoms of catarrhal reflux esophagitis

Spontaneous regular reflux of gastric juice (or intestinal contents) into the esophagus damages the lower esophagus, causing symptoms such as indigestion, pain, and heartburn.

Note: in the lower esophagus, under normal conditions, the pH of the medium is 6.0. In the case when the acidity becomes below four (acid reflux) or above seven (bile or alkaline reflux), the gastric contents thrown into the esophagus irritate its mucous membrane and provoke the development of an inflammatory process (reflux esophagitis).

The most characteristic symptoms of the disease include (in children - frequent regurgitation of air or vomiting of milk). Also, this condition is characterized by sour eructation and retrosternal pain, radiating to the interscapular region, neck, left half of the chest and lower jaw, and cramping pains in the stomach.

Diagnostics

In order to accurately diagnose the pathological condition, a thorough history is taken and clinical symptoms are evaluated. Of the instrumental methods, patients are shown esophagoscopy (study of the inner surface of the esophagus) and x-ray examination.

Note: when prescribing esophagoscopy, contraindications to this procedure must be taken into account.

Treatment of esophagitis

Treatment of catarrhal esophagitis is prescribed taking into account the clinical course of the disease and the severity of morphological changes in the mucosa of the esophagus.
The patient is prescribed a special diet without fail, and, if possible, existing damaging factors are excluded.
It should be emphasized that the treatment of the disease will be really effective only when the patient strictly adheres to the diet and proper diet.
In the event that signs of esophagitis appear in infants, they are assigned special care. The baby is fed only in a semi-vertical position, and at the end of feeding the baby is kept strictly vertical for 1-3 minutes.
Older children who suffer from esophagitis should undergo a complete diagnostic examination and find out the cause of this pathology. It can be triggered by gastritis, neurosis or. Therapeutic measures should be aimed at reducing the harmful effects on the esophagus of the stomach contents that enter there, as well as reducing the severity of reflux.
At the same time, the consumption of chocolate, tomatoes and fatty foods is mandatory.
Also in the process of treatment, patients are prescribed anacid (enveloping) drugs, local and antispasmodics.

Note: in the case of candidal lesions of the esophagus, antifungal agents are recommended.

Foods that can damage the mucous membrane of the esophagus are completely excluded from the diet of patients: spicy and rough foods, citrus fruits, alcohol and strong coffee. At the same time, it is very useful to take herbal decoctions that have wound healing, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects.

In a severe form of the pathological process and a pronounced form of intoxication, enteral nutrition can be prescribed, as well as infusion therapy, which involves the introduction of detoxification solutions.
In the case when the cause of catarrhal esophagitis is an infection, the patient is prescribed antibiotic therapy.

Warning! With severe pain, painkillers are prescribed, and gastric lavage is contraindicated at this point.

Surgical treatment of catarrhal esophagitis is prescribed only when the patient develops a severe narrowing of the esophagus that cannot be dilated.

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:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. III degree is characterized by damage to 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;
4. IV degree, when more than 75 percent of the mucosa is affected, and the foci of inflammation 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 mild, 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.

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 into 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:

Alternative 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 used 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, soda, 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 comply with 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.