What condition is characterized by inflammation of the esophagus?

Esophagitis is characterized by inflammation of the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. This condition can result from various factors, including infection, chemicals, or physical injury, and is often associated with symptoms such as pain while swallowing, difficulty in swallowing, and heartburn.

Understanding the context of the other options helps clarify why they do not describe the inflammation of the esophagus. Gastritis refers specifically to inflammation of the stomach lining; enteritis describes inflammation of the intestines; and colitis is the inflammation of the colon. Each of these terms refers to different parts of the gastrointestinal system and their respective conditions, which is why they do not fit the description given in the question. Esophagitis, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the esophagus and is the only term in this context that directly addresses inflammation of that specific part of the digestive tract.