Achalasia

Achalasia is a rare oesophageal motility disorder characterised by the failure of the lower oesophageal sphincter to relax during swallowing, leading to dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. It is clinically significant as it can result in malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and increased risk of oesophageal cancer. A key association is with autoimmune conditions, particularly Chagas disease, which can cause similar symptoms due to nerve damage.