Esophageal candidiasis : an endoscopic and histopathologic study

Abstract EN

To determine the frequency of endoscopic esophageal candidiasis and to compare the results with histopatho-logical findings while assessing the relationship between positive oral swabs and stool examinations for Candida and esophageal candidiasis, a study was conducted on 778 patients in Iraq-Baghdad lAlyarmuk Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine, from January 1999 to December 2000.

The major presenting symptom was hematamesis.

During upper GI endoscopy 22 (2.8 %) had lesions suggestive of esophageal candidiasis but this could be confirmed histopathologically in only fourteen.

Oral candidiasis was found in 10 of the 22 patients (45.4 %) ; stool examinations for Monilia were positive in only two (9 %) who also gave positive oral swabs.

Twenty control patients gave negative oral swabs and only three (15 %) positive stools.