Medical expert of the article
New publications
Gastritis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
[What causes gastritis?
The acute course of the disease develops as a result of the influence of irritant factors on the mucous cover of the stomach. These factors include acids, alkalis, very cold or, conversely, too hot food. Gastritis can occur as a result of exposure to certain medications. These include acetylsalicylic acid, nurofen, ibuprofen, nemisil, nemigezik.
Predisposing factors
Most often gastritis is preceded by factors such as frequent eating disorders; excessive consumption of very spicy food; too hot, or, conversely, cold food; long-term treatment with medications that irritate the mucous cover of the stomach; heredity; gout.
Gastritis manifests acute pain in the epigastric region, both after eating and on an empty stomach, eructation, a feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, bloating and flatulence.
If you do not start therapy in time, then acute gastritis passes into the stage of chronic course, often exacerbated.
Gastritis is classified as erosive or non- erosive, based on the degree of damage to the mucous membrane. It is also classified by the localization process (i.e., the cardiac department, the body, the antral department). Gastritis can also be classified histologically as acute or chronic, based on the type of inflammation of the cells. However, no classification schemes completely correspond to pathophysiology; there are many combinations of pathological changes. Some forms include acid-peptic lesions and gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori. Often this term includes nonspecific symptoms of gastritis (often not diagnosed), abdominal discomfort and gastroenteritis.
Acute gastritis is characterized by infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) of the body's mucous membrane and antral part of the stomach.
Chronic gastritis is characterized by a certain degree of mucosal atrophy (with loss of mucosal function) or metaplasia. The process mainly affects the antral compartment (with the subsequent death of G cells and a decrease in the secretion of gastrin) or the body of the stomach (with the loss of acid-producing glands, leading to a decrease in acidity, production of pepsin and internal factor).
How is gastritis manifested?
Most gastritis is asymptomatic, that is, there are no symptoms of gastritis, but sometimes develop dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding. With gastritis, the patient complains of pain in the upper abdominal region, attacks of nausea and vomiting, heartburn, general weakness, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. In this situation, it is accepted immediately to consult a doctor, since acute gastritis in the case of untimely measures can go into a chronic course.
Possible complications
If the patient does not pay attention to his health and is slow to consult a specialist gastroenterologist, gastritis after his transition to a chronic form can be complicated by gastric bleeding, gastric ulcer, perforation of the walls of the stomach, erosion.
How to recognize gastritis?
The diagnosis of "gastritis" is established with endoscopy.
Methods of examination of a patient with suspected gastritis
In order to accurately confirm or refute the diagnosis of gastritis, the doctor prescribes to the patient such methods of examination as ultrasound of the digestive tract; FGDS (fibrogastroduodenoscopy); Research of gastric juice on the level of its acidity; biopsy; blood test (general); X-ray of the abdominal cavity organs.
What do need to examine?
What tests are needed?
Who to contact?
How is gastritis treated?
Treatment of gastritis is directed to the main cause, but often involves suppression of acidity and, with H. Pylori infection (Lelobakter pylori), antibiotics.
How to behave to the patient?
It is important to remember that only a qualified doctor can diagnose gastritis and determine the form of its course after a careful examination of the patient, collection of anamnesis, the patient's delivery of all necessary analyzes and studies. After this, on the basis of the diagnosis and the form of the disease, the doctor prescribes adequate therapy.
It is difficult to overestimate the role of the patient in the treatment of inflammation of the stomach, since the result of therapy depends on it. The patient must adhere to strict adherence to the diet prescribed by the doctor, take all the medicines on time and take the necessary tests.
Features of diet therapy
In the treatment of gastritis, the patient must comply with the prescribed diet, which excludes foods such as various strong broths; strong tea and coffee; seasonings and spices; Smoked meat, sausages, sausages; canned food; fried and fatty foods; alcoholic beverages; baking, fresh white bread.
Gastritis is successfully treated if the patient promptly consults a specialist. The basis of therapy in the treatment of this disease are
- strict adherence to a diet prescribed by a doctor;
- taking drugs that normalize the acidity of gastric juice;
- taking enveloping medications (almagel, smecta);
- reception of antibacterial drugs provided the bacteria Helicobacter pylori are detected.
More information of the treatment
Prevention
In order not to develop a gastritis, it is necessary to eat right, not to abuse harmful food, smoked foods, to abandon bad habits. At the slightest suspicion of inflammation of the stomach should seek medical attention.