Gastritis Overview

The term gastritis refers to irritation of stomach lining. People who are diagnosed with gastritis feel pain or discomfort in the abdomen. It can be a sudden illness or a chronic condition or a part of some other medical illness. The most common form of acute gastritis is the upset stomach which usually occurs after you have consumed alcohol. Aspirin, too, can be a contributory factor to gastritis. Chronic gastritis is usually caused by a type of bacteria that causes infection in the stomach.

Gastritis is a very common medical problem. Around 10% of the patients who complain for abdominal pain are ultimately diagnosed with gastritis. The most common instances of gastritis occur only for a short period of time but if you are diagnosed with chronic gastritis, it can linger for months.

Gastritis can be caused by a multitude of reasons like different medications, medical and surgical conditions. Physical stress and lifestyle habits too play a big role in gastritis. The condition can occur due to the intake of certain medications like aspirin, NSAIDs, prescription steroids, swallowing corrosives like acid and medical conditions like after a critical illness or after medical procedures like endoscopy. There are certain infections which can cause gastritis in people. These are tuberculosis, syphilis, bacterial and viral Infections.

The symptom of gastritis is usually limited to pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Sometimes, gastritis pain occurs in the back and upper left portion of the abdomen. This pain is often described as burning or aching by the patients. A person may experience other symptoms of gastritis like belching, nausea and vomiting.

The diagnosis of gastritis is possible with the help of a physical examination of the patient. Additionally, blood tests and endoscopy may be advised by a gastroenterologist. The doctor will first ask you about your symptoms, medical history and habits. This information is enough to arrive at a diagnosis. If required, the doctor may advise certain tests like H. pylori test, blood cell counts, and liver and kidney function tests. The only way to prevent the condition of gastritis is to avoid the things that irritate the stomach. The main elements that are believed to irritate or inflame the lining of the stomach are aspirin, NSAIDs, smoking and caffeine.

 As soon as gastritis is diagnosed by the medical practitioner, the treatment can begin. However, the choice of the treatment will depend entirely on the severity of the problem. There are treatments which target the exact cause of gastritis. The stomach of the patient will heal in due course as soon as the medication is started.

The medications for gastritis include histamine blockers, proton pump inhibitors, coating agents and antibiotics. Antibiotics are only administered when H. pylori is the cause of the patient’s gastritis.