Gastritis

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is a redness and inflammation of the lining of the stomach either new (acute) or chronic. It means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury. Gastritis does not mean that there is an ulcer or cancer.

What causes gastritis?

Gastritis is caused by an irritation or infection in the stomach. Irritation can be caused by:

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Some people have no symptoms. Others may have some symptoms of acute pain or gnawing in the stomach, nausea and vomiting. Some with chronic inflammation may have a dull pain, loss of appetite and feeling of fullness. Please call your doctor if your symptoms get worse.

How is gastritis treated?

Treatment of gastritis depends on its cause. During your upper endoscopy, a biopsy, or a small sample of the stomach tissue, was removed and sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope to determine an exact cause. For most types of gastritis reducing the stomach acid is helpful. Many times medication that blocks the stomach from producing acid is recommended. Stop the use of aspirin, NSAIDs or alcohol if they are causing problems. If a diagnosis of H. pylori is made your doctor will want you to take a course of antibiotics. For people with symptoms general guidelines to reduce stomach acid are:

What is the prognosis for gastritis?

Gastritis by itself is rarely a serious problem. With proper treatment, eliminating the infection and measures to reduce stomach acid often cures gastritis. Your doctor will let you know your treatment plan based on your biopsy results.
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