Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 15, 2003; 9(10): 2328-2331
Published online Oct 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i10.2328
Candida esophagitis: Risk factors in non-HIV population in Pakistan
Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Shahab Abid, Nadeem Jafri, Muhammad Islam, Saeed Hamid, Hasnain A Shah, Akbar S Hussainy
Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Shahab Abid, Nadeem Jafri, Muhammad Islam, Saeed Hamid, Hasnain A Shah, Akbar S Hussainy, Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Pathology, Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Javed Yakoob, MBBS, PhD. Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Agha Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi-74800, Pakistan. yakoobjaved@hotmail.com
Telephone: +92-21-48594661 Fax: +92-21-4934294
Received: June 5, 2003
Revised: August 12, 2003
Accepted: August 19, 2003
Published online: October 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: Candida esophagitis is a frequent infection in immunocompromised patients. This study was designed to determine its characteristics in non-human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infected patients attending a teaching hospital.

METHODS: Clinical records of all patients coded by international classification of diseases 9th revision with clinical modifications’ (ICD-9-CM), with candida esophagitis diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and histopathology over a period of 5 years were studied.

RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (27 males, 24 females, range 21-77 years old and mean age 52.9 years) fulfilled the criteria (0.34% of the EGD). The common predisposing factors were carcinoma (OR 3.87, CI 1.00-14.99) and diabetes mellitus (OR 4.39, CI 1.34-14.42). The frequent clinical symptoms were retrosternal discomfort, dysphagia and epigastric abdominal pain with endoscopic appearance of scattered mucosal plaques. Another endoscopic lesion was associated with candida esophagitis in 15% patients.

CONCLUSION: Carcinomas, diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy are major risk factors for candida esophagitis in Pakistan. It is an easily managed complication that responds to treatment with nystatin.

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