Document 0768
 DOCN  M9440768
 TI    Esophageal infections: risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, and
       treatment.
 DT    9404
 AU    Baehr PH; McDonald GB; Gastroenterology/Hepatology Section, Fred
       Hutchinson Cancer; Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
 SO    Gastroenterology. 1994 Feb;106(2):509-32. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94131251
 AB    Infections of the esophagus are unusual in the general population and
       strongly imply immunodeficiency, although immunocompetent individuals
       are not exempt. HIV infection is predominant among risk factors for
       infectious esophagitis. For all immunocompromised patients, the most
       frequently identified esophageal pathogens are Candida, CMV, and HSV.
       Peculiar to HIV-infected patients are idiopathic esophageal ulcers as
       well as unusual bacteria and parasites. Patterns of presentation differ
       with each infecting organism, and clinical features should be used as a
       guide in achieving a correct diagnosis. For example, a patient with AIDS
       presenting with esophageal symptoms and thrush, along with abdominal
       pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever, is unlikely to resolve all symptoms
       with empiric antifungal therapy alone. Parsimony of diagnosis does not
       hold among immunodeficient patients in whom concurrent infections are
       common. Accurate and timely diagnoses are essential as effective
       treatments are available for particular etiologies. Finally, among
       immunocompromised patients, all esophageal symptoms are not necessarily
       due to an infection, and possible diagnoses of pill esophagitis,
       acid-peptic injury, or structural and functional abnormalities should
       not be overlooked.
 DE    Bacterial Infections/ETIOLOGY  Esophageal
       Diseases/DIAGNOSIS/*ETIOLOGY/THERAPY  Human
       Infection/DIAGNOSIS/*ETIOLOGY/THERAPY  Mycoses/ETIOLOGY  Parasitic
       Diseases/ETIOLOGY  Risk Factors  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Virus
       Diseases/ETIOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, ACADEMIC

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