What is the most common cause of esophagitis in AIDS patients?

The most common cause of esophagitis in patients with AIDS is indeed esophagitis caused by Candida albicans. This fungal infection occurs frequently in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with AIDS, due to the diminished immune response that allows opportunistic pathogens to proliferate.

While herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cause esophagitis in AIDS patients, it is not as commonly seen as Candida. The lesions associated with HSV tend to be vesicular and can lead to ulcers, but Candida is the more prevalent pathogen due to its ability to cause thrush and other opportunistic infections in individuals with significantly compromised immune systems.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) primarily leads to warty lesions and can cause issues related to squamous cell carcinoma in immunocompromised patients, but it is not a typical causative agent of esophagitis in the context of AIDS.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can certainly cause esophagitis, but it is not a result of viral or fungal infection and does not specifically relate to the AIDS patient population. In the context of AIDS, infectious causes are significantly more relevant than reflux-related changes.

Thus, in the setting of AIDS, Candida albicans emerges