Physicians disagree on the cause of this disorder except where it obviously follows ingestion of caustic material (such as lye or strong acids). It may be a congenital defect (present from before birth). Alternatively, it may be related to chronic injury caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in which stomach acid leaks into the esophagus and irritates it.
Esophageal rings are known to occur from drinking a caustic material and resulting scar tissue. The condition may produce swallowing difficulties.
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