When To Call A Professional
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If you are unable to eat or drink due to pain during swallowing, you should contact your doctor. Life-threatening dehydration can develop quickly if you cannot drink liquids.
Occasionally an injured esophagus can develop a hole, causing sudden worsening of chest pain, shortness of breath or fever. Report these symptoms to your doctor immediately, because bacteria from your digestive tract can contaminate your chest cavity and cause a serious infection.
If your symptoms do not clear up with initial treatment, consult your doctor. Occasionally, scarring in the esophagus will cause persistent swallowing difficulty that might require treatment by a gastroenterologist.
Prognosis
Almost all cases of esophagitis can be cured. Some causes, such as acid reflux, may require long-term treatment.
Additional Info
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) P.O. Box 3099 Arlington, VA 22302 http://www.acg.gi.org/
American Gastroenterological Association 4930 Del Ray Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 654-2055 Fax: (301) 654-5920 http://www.gastro.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases P.O. Box 2087 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Toll-Free: (800) 311-3435 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/index.htm
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