Symptoms. Esophagitis is a condition that is rarely asymptomatic. The most common symptoms associated with esophagitis are odynophagia or pain with swallowing, dysphagia or difficulty with swallowing, heartburn, hoarse voice, and sore throat. Other less common symptoms include acid reflux, chest pain that worsens when eating, nausea and vomiting, epigastric abdominal pain, a decrease in appetite, and a cough. Young children may have trouble with feeding if they have esophagitis. Symptoms of esophagitis that indicate a serious medical problem and immediately require a doctor are shortness of breath, symptoms that last more than a few days, symptoms that interfere with normal eating, a fever, headaches, or muscle aches. Being unable to consume small sips of water because of esophagitis is indicative of a life-threatening emergency.
