Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.

Conditions

• Age younger than 6 years
• Age older than 60 years
• Chewing or swallowing problems
• Eating disorders, such as bulimia
• Developmental disabilities
• Not having teeth, or wearing dentures
• A history of esophagus problems, such as:
  • Abnormal muscle contraction (spasm) of the esophagus
  • Narrowing of the esophagus (especially if the esophagus has required dilation in the past)
  • Previous injury to or surgery of the esophagus
• A history of swallowing a foreign object (more common in small children, psychiatric patients, and prisoners)
• A history of radiation therapy to the head, neck, or chest
• History of stroke
• Being in jail or prison (incarceration)
• Mental retardation or another developmental delay
• Mental illness
• Pregnancy
• Previous surgery to remove the spleen

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal

Medicines

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Diseases

• Cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus
• Diabetes
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• History of an esophageal disease, such as esophageal stricture or esophageal motility disorder
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection