Abstract

The most typical esophageal infection is Candida esophagitis (CE). Although non-albicans species like Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis are becoming more common, Candida albicans is the primary cause. In up to 20% of cases, the gastrointestinal commensal Candida albicans colonizes the esophagus. Candida species can cause serious systemic infections such bacteremia in addition to local mucosal membrane infections of the esophagus, oropharynx, and vagina. Dysphagia and odynophagia, or difficulty swallowing, are common symptoms of CE patients and are frequently localized to one specific retrosternal region. Oral "thrush" frequently coexists with immunosuppressed people (such as those suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or "AIDS"). Even though many CE patients may not have any symptoms, the diagnosis can be aided if a patient experiencing esophageal symptoms has oropharyngeal candidiasis.