Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
In most people, antiviral medication such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir can control the infection. Some people also need pain medicine. Many people who are treated for an episode of herpes esophagitis need other, long-term medicines to suppress the virus and prevent reinfection.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Esophagitis can usually be treated effectively. Healthy people recover on their own in 3 - 5 days, but those with a weakened immune system take longer to get better.
The outcome depends upon the immune system problem that makes the person more likely to develop the infection.
Complications
- Holes in your esophagus (perforations)
- Infection at other sites
- Recurrent infection
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you have any condition that can cause reduced
Previous Section
Review Date: 08/28/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine,
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
