You are in Medical Library . It often heralds a decrease in the ability of the immune system to fight off an organism that normally does not cause severe disease.
Candidal esophagitis occurs when the organism spreads from the mouth down the esophagus.
Swallowing becomes difficult and painful. Oral thrush or yeast infection predisposes an immunocompromised person to esophagitis. The incidence is 1 in 10,000 persons. The objective of treatment is to eliminate the infection with antifungal medications such as ketoconazole and fluconazole. Amphotericin B may be used if other treatment fails.