A CASE OF ESOPHAGEAL ULCER DUE TO THERMAL BURN CAUSED BY HABITUAL INTAKE OF HOT DRINKS

Abstract

A 26-year-old woman visited our outpatient department with a complaint of foreign body sensation of the throat. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a circumferential ulcer in the esophagus 20cm to 25cm from the incisiors, although no foreign body was detected. Initially the cause of esophageal ulcer was uncertain. A carefully taken history revealed that she had had the habit of taking extremely hot drinks, such as coffee and tea. After discontinuing the habit, her condition & endoscopic findings improved dramatically in two months. It is important to ask patients with esophageal ulcer of unknown cause about their eating (or drinking) habits.