Clinical profile and management of "pill esophagitis" due to antibiotics

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the clinical profile, management and course of "pill esophagitis" at a tertiary care hospital. All patients presenting with pill ingestion and esophagitis were reviewed for clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, etiological factors and course of illness. 23 patients were noted to have pill esophagitis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of history of drug ingestion and endoscopic appearances. Most common ingestion was due to tetracycline products and non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Withdrawal of the offending drug resolved the symptoms in 10 days without any sequelae in almost all patients. Pill esophagitis is not are uncommon clinical entity and presents after ingestion of certain drugs Odynophagia is a frequent presentation and the condition resolves without major sequelae after withdrawal of the offending agent