DURATION OF AN ESOPHAGITIS

Total healing time

The healing time of an esophagitis (Esophagitis) is strongly dependent on the original triggering cause, since the therapy also depends on it. The most common form of esophagitis, so-called reflux esophagitis, occurs when stomach acid returns from the stomach into the esophagus, where it attacks the mucous membrane, which is not equipped to come into contact with acid. Here, the treatment is usually carried out with drugs that inhibit acid production in the stomach so that the gastric fluid is no longer so "corrosive" and the mucous membrane of the esophagus is therefore less strongly attacked.

As a rule, it takes a therapy with these drugs, which as Proton pump inhibitors are designated (e.g. Pantozol®), some weeksuntil the mucous membrane has recovered. However, it should be emphasized that this type of esophagitis usually has a chronic course, which means that it can occur again and again.

Infectious esophagitis, triggered for example by viruses or fungi, often has to be treated with medication, and it often goes by until the findings have completely healed several weeks.

Duration of symptoms

The duration of symptoms in patients suffering from esophagitis is also largely dependent on what triggered the inflammation and what treatment is being used.
In the most common form of inflammation, the Reflux esophagitis (often noticed as heartburn by those affected), it lasts Symptoms sometimes over months if no adequate therapy is initiated. When drug therapy with anti-acid drugs is started, symptoms are usually after a few days to weeks it declines, but in many cases they can flare up again and again as the inflammation is often chronic.

Duration of therapy

Only the most common form of esophagitis, reflux esophagitis, is discussed here, which is caused by regular reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus (noticed by patients as heartburn). As a rule, drugs that inhibit the acid production of the gastric juice-producing cells are used for therapy. A typical representative is, for example, the Pantozol.

The duration of treatment varies widely and depends on how the symptoms develop. Usually one is Treatment necessary for several weeks, in patients in whom the disease has occurred for the first time, an attempt can then be made, i.e. a break in the acid-inhibiting medication. Often, however, the inflammation then returns, especially if the risk factors (nicotine and alcohol consumption, fatty meals, overweight) are not changed and the tablets are then taken permanently.

At inflammation caused by infection the esophagus, for example thrush esophagitis caused by a fungal attack, often with impaired function of the immune system, the treatment takes usually 2-4 weeks.

Length of incapacity for work

It is caused by a simple inflammation of the esophagus in the context of reflux esophagitis usually no incapacity for work.
If the inflammation is caused by trauma (ingestion of caustic solutions / damage to the mucous membrane by swallowing a foreign body), then the duration of the inability to work depends on how long the healing process takes. This can be very different, depending on the severity of the injury, 1-2 days or several weeks of sick leave may be necessary.
In the case of esophagitis as part of an infection, for example with fungal pathogens such as Candida, it depends on how severe the symptoms are, whether or not you are unable to work.