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Herpetic esophagitis
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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[ Symptoms of herpetic esophagitis
The symptoms of herpetic esophagitis are similar to those of common catarrhal esophagitis and are accompanied by symptoms of a general herpetic infection (sudden onset, chills, fever, sometimes convulsions). After 24-48 hours, the severity of these phenomena is significantly reduced or they disappear completely. Instead, local signs of herpetic lesions appear on the skin, mucous membrane of the pharynx and esophagus. The latter dominate in clinical manifestations - pain when the food bolus passes through the esophagus, dysphagia, sometimes belching mucus with an admixture of blood.
Where does it hurt?
Diagnosis of herpetic esophagitis
The diagnosis of herpetic esophagitis is established by the presence of herpetic lesions of the skin, mucous membrane of the pharynx and by fibroesophagoscopy. Herpetic lesions of the mucous membrane of the esophagus appear as vesicles with scalloped edges, tending to merge, filled with yellowish serous fluid. The vesicles are replaced by ulcers, the bottom of which is covered with a yellowish false-membranous coating. These lesions of the mucous membrane of the esophagus are similar to those that occur on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx, which facilitates the diagnosis of influenza esophagitis. Herpetic eruptions on the mucous membrane of the esophagus can recur at short intervals, gradually increasing, and the number of eruptions decreases.
What do need to examine?
What tests are needed?
Who to contact?
Treatment and prognosis of herpetic esophagitis
Treatment of herpetic esophagitis - general antiviral antiherpetic, but in most cases influenza esophagitis goes away on its own. Locally - the same measures as for catarrhal esophagitis.
The prognosis for the occurrence of esophageal strictures is favorable. Only with secondary infection, which is rare, is pyogenic esophagitis possible.