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Influenza esophagitis

Medical expert of the article

Dr. Maor Lahav

Gastroenterologist

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

Influenza esophagitis can manifest itself in two forms - mild catarrhal and severe ulcerative-necrotic; a paralytic form is also distinguished.

Symptoms of influenza esophagitis

Influenza catarrhal esophagitis occurs as a mild syndrome in the overall clinical picture of influenza infection and differs little from the picture of catarrhal esophagitis described above. Mild pains in the lower neck and chest occur, increasing with swallowing. Sometimes belching of food and mucus occurs, resulting from a reflex spasm of the esophagus. Fibrogastroscopy reveals diffuse hyperemia of the mucous membrane and areas of spastic contractures.

The evolution of the process proceeds favorably, recovery occurs within 6-10 days.

Influenza phlegmonous esophagitis is pathomorphologically similar to a similar process that occurs with pyogenic etiology, but clinically it is much more severe, in accordance with influenza infection.