Infectious esophagitis.

Infectious esophagitis is most often seen in patients with impaired host resistance. It has become a particular problem in the growing AIDS population. The three most commonly encountered opportunistic infections of the esophagus are Candida albicans, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus. Candida is the single leading cause of infectious esophagitis. Tuberculous and bacterial esophagitis and other unusual fungal infections of the esophagus are uncommon.