Summarize:

Reflux esophagitis occurs when the stomach acid refluxes through the lower esophageal sphincter and into the esophagus. GERD is a condition in which this backflow is a chronic problem. One complication of GERD is tissue damage to the esophagus leading to esophagitis. Your risk for esophagitis can increase because of pre-existing medical conditions. For example, surgery or radiation to the chest will weaken the lower esophageal sphincter and increase your risk of experiencing esophagitis. Chronic vomiting weakens the sphincter from pressure in the stomach and thus increases the risk of esophagitis. People with a weakened immune system from medications or an immune-mediated illness such as HIV can develop infections that lead to esophagitis. These infections include those due to fungi or viruses such as herpes or cytomegalovirus. Infectious esophagitis can be the result of a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Although relatively rare, this type of esophagitis will occur more often in people with poor immune function, such as people suffering from HIV, leukemia, chemotherapy treatments for cancer, diabetes or organ transplant. Symptoms associated with infectious esophagitis can include: Fever and chills associated with the infection. Oral thrush if the infectious agent is candida albicans If the infection is herpes or cytomegalovirus, you may experience sores in your mouth or in the back of your throat, making swallowing food or saliva even more uncomfortable. You may be having an allergic reaction that can cause esophagitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis can occur in response to an allergic reaction or from acid-reflux or both. Eosinophils are white blood cells that play a role in allergic reactions in the body. Sometimes the allergy is to foods, such as milk, eggs, wheat, soy or peanuts. At other times, people can have non-food reactions to pollen or dander, which causes esophagitis.
Determine if you have chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Talk to your doctor about your health conditions. Get evaluated for infections. Get tested for allergies.