What does oesophagitis mean?
Oesophagitis is the medical term for inflammation of the oesophagus, the tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach. It is most commonly associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux, in which stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the oesophagus and irritates its lining. Other causes include swallowed irritants, infections, medication effects, and allergic or immune-mediated conditions. Symptoms can include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, chest discomfort, and pain when eating, although diagnosis may require medical assessment and sometimes endoscopy. Oesophagitis is important because persistent inflammation can cause ulcers, bleeding, narrowing of the oesophagus, or difficulty swallowing. The term is used in British and international medical writing, while US sources commonly use the spelling esophagitis.
nounInflammation of the oesophagus, the muscular tube connecting the throat to the stomach. It may result from acid reflux, swallowed irritants, infections, allergies, or other medical conditions.
- Inflammation of the oesophagus.
"Her persistent heartburn was eventually diagnosed as reflux oesophagitis."
"The endoscopy showed mild oesophagitis but no signs of ulceration."
"A biopsy was required to determine whether the patient had eosinophilic oesophagitis."
In medical usage, oesophagitis is generally treated as a mass noun or used in phrases such as cases of oesophagitis; a separate plural is uncommon.
"The hospital reported several cases of oesophagitis during the month."
The name combines the Greek word for the gullet with a suffix meaning inflammation, so it literally describes inflammation of the passage to the stomach.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How oesophagitis is actually used
This is primarily a medical term. The British spelling is oesophagitis and the US spelling is esophagitis; both are used in clinical and scientific contexts.
Easily confused with oesophagitis
Oesophagitis is inflammation of the oesophagus, whereas gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining.