The key difference between gastritis and esophagitis is that gastritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the stomach while esophagitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the esophagus.
Gastritis and esophagitis are two different gastrointestinal conditions that involve inflammation. However, gastritis occurs in the stomach, while esophagitis occurs in the esophagus.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Gastritis
3. What is Esophagitis
4. Similarities – Gastritis and Esophagitis
5. Gastritis vs. Esophagitis in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Gastritis and Esophagitis
7. Summary – Gastritis vs. Esophagitis
What is Gastritis?
Gastritis is a condition that refers to the inflammation in the stomach lining. There are two types of gastritis: acute and chronic gastritis. Acute gastritis is caused by smoking, drinking too much, constant use of NSAIDs, not effectively managing stress, etc., whereas chronic gastritis is caused due to a bacteria Helicobacter pyroli infection. Moreover, the symptoms of gastritis may include feeling full without eating a whole lot, nausea, bloating, indigestion, less appetite, stomach pain, unintentional weight loss, and stomach ulcers.
Figure 01: Gastritis
Gastritis can be diagnosed by upper GI series or barium swallow, upper endoscopy (EGD), blood tests, stool samples, and breath tests. Furthermore, treatment options for gastritis may include antacids and other medicines such as antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, managing certain conditions, refraining from any foods, drinks, or medicines that cause symptoms or irritate the stomach, quitting smoking, and staying away from alcohol.
What is Esophagitis?
Esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus. The common symptoms of esophagitis may include difficulty in swallowing, painful swallowing, swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus, chest pain, heartburn, and acid regurgitation. Esophagitis can be caused by stomach acid in the food pipe, chronic vomiting, medicines such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines, medicinal procedures such as radiation therapy, infections that weaken the immune system, and allergies, often to food.
Figure 02: Esophagitis
Esophagitis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, GI series, endoscopy, and esophageal pH test. Furthermore, treatment options for esophagitis may include therapy, acid-blocking medicines, additional medicines to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter, avoidance of certain food, dilation, lifestyle changes (stop smoking, limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, and become more active), and surgery.
What are the Similarities Between Gastritis and Esophagitis?
- Gastritis and esophagitis are two different gastrointestinal conditions that involve inflammation.
- Both conditions can result in pain in different parts of the digestive system.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examination and endoscopy.
- Both fibroids can be diagnosed through pelvic examination and imaging tests such as endoscopy.
- They can be treated through acid-blocking medicines and lifestyle changes.
What is the Difference Between Gastritis and Esophagitis?
Gastritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the stomach, while esophagitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the esophagus. Thus, this is the key difference between gastritis and esophagitis. Furthermore, gastritis can be caused by smoking, drinking too much, constant use of NSAIDs, not effectively managing stress, or due to a bacteria Helicobacter pyroli infection. On the other hand, esophagitis can be caused by stomach acid in the food pipe, chronic vomiting, medicines such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines, medicinal procedures such as radiation therapy, infections that weaken the immune system, and allergies, often to food.
The infographic below presents the differences between gastritis and esophagitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Gastritis and Esophagitis
How are gastritis and esophagitis treated?
Antacid is the treatment used to reduce acid production in gastritis and esophagitis.
How do you know if your esophagus is inflamed?
Sore throat, feeling that something is stuck in your throat, sores in your mouth, nausea or vomiting, difficulty or painful swallowing, and heartburn.
Is esophagitis serious?
If left untreated, esophagitis can damage this lining and interfere with its function.
Summary – Gastritis vs. Esophagitis
Gastritis and esophagitis are gastrointestinal conditions present commonly with epigastric pain or dyspepsia. Moreover, gastritis and esophagitis are two different gastrointestinal conditions that involve inflammation. However, gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining, while esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus. Furthermore, gastritis can be caused by smoking, drinking too much, constant use of NSAIDs, not effectively managing stress, or due to a bacteria Helicobacter pyroli infection. On the other hand, Esophagitis can be caused by stomach acid in the food pipe, chronic vomiting, medicines such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines, medicinal procedures such as radiation therapy, infections that weaken the immune system, and allergies, often to food. So, this summarizes the difference between gastritis and esophagitis.
Reference:
1. “Gastritis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More.” WebMD.
2. “Esophagitis.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Depiction of a person suffering from Gastritis” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Eosinophilic esophagitis endo“ (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia