Esophageal candidiasis (EC) is an opportunistic infection that typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a 50-year-old immunocompetent man who developed EC to highlight the importance of recognizing it in otherwise healthy patients and identifying risk factors.A 50-year-old man, with no significant medical history, presented with several weeks of chest pain during meals, postprandial fullness, and later, a foreign-body throat sensation. He had been taking a daily proton-pump inhibitor (PPI), and an increase in the dose to twice daily was suggested without improvement.  An endoscopy performed one year earlier had been normal. Due to persistent symptoms, a repeat upper endoscopy with biopsy was performed, revealing multiple white plaques on the esophageal mucosa, consistent with EC, confirmed by histology. The patient was treated with fluconazole, leading to complete symptom resolution, and an evaluation for underlying immunosuppressive disorders was unremarkable.This case describes EC in a healthy 50-year-old man, emphasizing other risk factors to this condition, other than immunosuppression.EC can occur in immunocompetent individuals, and a detailed clinical history can identify risk factors and raise suspicion. This diagnosis should be considered when risk factors are present and symptoms persist despite treatment.Candida species are responsible for opportunistic infections, and EC is typically associated with immunosuppression, as HIV infection, malignancy, or immunosuppressive therapy. In immunocompetent individuals, it is uncommon and can be associated with long-term acid-suppressive therapy, recent antibiotic use, or topical corticosteroids. Typical symptoms include retrosternal pain or odynophagia. Diagnosis can be made through endoscopic visualization of white plaques and confirmed histologically. Systemic antifungal therapy is the standard treatment, usually resulting in complete clinical recovery. In this case, no systemic immunodeficiency was identified, and the long-term PPI use was considered the most plausible risk factor.It is important to be aware of the clinical presentation of EC and consider medication-induced alterations in mucosal defenses as potential contributors to fungal infections, even in immunocompetent individuals.