Epidemiological and Diagnostic Characteristics of Esophageal Candidiasis at the Borgou-Alibori Departmental University Hospital Center in the Republic of Benin in 2025

Introduction: Esophageal candidiasis is an opportunistic disease that is frequently associated with immunosuppressive conditions. Its prevalence remains substantial worldwide, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and diagnostic characteristics of esophageal candidiasis in northern Benin in 2025. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study with prospective data collection was conducted from February 3, 2025, to July 31, 2025. All patients, aged 18 and older, referred to the Borgou-Alibori Departmental University Hospital Center (CHUD-B/A) for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included. Those with suspected esophageal candidiasis identified during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy underwent mycological testing of samples taken from the lesions. The dependent variable was the presence of esophageal candidiasis diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and mycological examination. Results: Among the 229 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal candidiasis was diagnosed in 41, representing a hospital prevalence of 17.9%. The mean age of these patients was 50.9 ± 13.5 years. The male-to-female ratio was 0.78. The most frequently reported symptoms were abdominal pain (61%), dysphagia (26.8%), and retrosternal pain (21.9%). Candida species were isolated in all patients, with Candida albicans accounting for 48.8% of the isolates. Among the known risk factors reported in the literature, the most frequently observed in our patients were proton pump inhibitor use, antibiotic exposure, excessive alcohol consumption, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and HIV infection. Conclusion: Esophageal candidiasis is highly prevalent at CHUD-B/A. It predominantly affects middle-aged adults, and women represented a slight majority of cases in the present study. Further prospective analytical studies involving larger sample sizes are required to identify factors associated with esophageal candidiasis and to describe the therapeutic and prognostic aspects of this condition.