Esophagitis Glossary of Terms

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Achalasia: A disease of the esophagus that mainly affects young adults. Abnormal function ...

Acid reflux: A common condition and an abnormal one in which acid in the stomach rises up...

Acyclovir: (Brand name: Zovirax) One of a group of antiviral drugs that acts against the...

Antifungal: A medication that limits or prevents the growth of yeasts and other fungal org...

Antiviral: An agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, he...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bariatric: Pertaining to the study, prevention, or treatment of overweight.

Bariatric surgery: Surgery on the stomach and/or intestines to help a person with extrem...

Barium: 1. A metallic element belonging to the alkaline earths with an atomic numbe...

Barium solution: A liquid that contains barium sulfate, which produces a visible image on ...

Barium swallow: A test that involves filling the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines ...

Barrett's esophagus: A complication of severe chronic GERD (gastrointestinal reflux dise...

Belching: A normal process of releasing through the mouth air that accumulates in the stom...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Botulinum toxin: A toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that is th...

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Carcinoma: Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover body organs. Ex...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, either due to direct contact with an irritating sub...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dilatation: The process of enlargement or expansion. Also known as dilation.

Dysphasia: One in a group of speech disorders in which there is impairment of the power of...

Endoscope: A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. A...

Endoscopy: Examination of the inside of the body by using a lighted, flexible instrument c...

Esophageal: Related to the esophagus.

Esophageal cancer: A malignant tumor of the esophagus. The risk of cancer of the esophagus...

Esophageal ulcer: A crater in the lining of the esophagus that is created by the corrosive...

Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus.

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

Gastroenterologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases...

Gastroenterology: The medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of d...

Gastroesophageal: Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus, as in the gastroesopha...

Gastroesophageal reflux: The return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus This fr...

Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Halitosis: An unpleasant odor from the mouth, commonly referred to as bad breath. Halitosi...

Hay fever: A seasonal allergy to airborne particles characterized by itchy eyes, runny nos...

Heartburn: An uncomfortable feeling of burning and warmth occurring in waves rising up be...

Hernia: A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavit...

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

Hiatal: Pertaining to an hiatus, an opening.

Hiatal hernia: An anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes up through...

HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodefi...

Hoarseness: Hoarseness is a term referring to abnormal voice changes. Hoarseness may be ma...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Mucosa: Having to do with a mucous membrane. For example, the oral mucosa.

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Muscular: Having to do with the muscles. Also, endowed with above average muscle developme...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Precursor: Forerunner. That which precedes or is derived from an available source.

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Rhinitis: Irritation of the nose.

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Sore throat: Pain in the throat. Sore throat may be caused by many different causes, inclu...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stricture: An abnormal narrowing of a body passage, especially a tube or a canal. The str...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Taste: A perception that results from stimulation of a gustatory nerve. Taste belongs to t...

Thorax: The area of the body that is located between the abdomen and the neck. Within the ...

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Toxin: A poison produced by certain animals, plants, or bacteria.

Ulcer: A lesion that is eroding away the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers can have various ...

Upper GI series: A series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper ...

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

Viral infection: Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on...

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...

Yeast infection: Overgrowth of yeast can affect the skin (yeast rash), mouth (thrush), di...