VOLUME 10 , ISSUE 1 ( January-December, 2020 ) > List of Articles
Ravneet Kaur, Molly Joseph
Citation Information : Kaur R, Joseph M. Herpes Simplex Infection Masquerading as Esophageal Candidiasis in Immunocompetent Individuals: A Series of Two Cases. J Gastrointest Infect 2020; 10 (1):33-35.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10068-3034
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 01-06-2021
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).
Herpes simplex esophagitis (HSE) is usually an autopsy finding in immunosuppressed hosts but is a rare occurrence in immunocompetent individuals. It presents with an acute onset of retrosternal pain, odynophagia, and fever. Clinically, esophageal herpetic infections remain underdiagnosed unless the patient is immunocompromised. HSE is generally a self-limiting condition. The patient may present with complications like perforation and bleeding. Antiviral therapy is useful to provide symptomatic relief and hasten recovery. Treatment with the nucleoside analog acyclovir has been shown to be effective for HSE. Herpes esophagitis must be kept in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute esophageal complaints. We hereby report two cases of herpetic esophagitis in young immunocompetent patients.
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