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Gastritis - Gastritis symptom, treatment, causes

Gastritis or dyspepsia, an disordered inflammation or irritation of the lining of the stomach, is not a single disease. Gastritis is a common medical problem. Up to 10% of people who come to a hospital emergency department with abdominal pain have gastritis. The word comes from the Greek gastro- meaning of the stomach and -itis meaning inflammation. In some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. The most common symptoms are abdominal upset or pain. Other symptoms are belching, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting or a feeling of fullness or of burning in the upper abdomen. Depending on the cause, it may persist acutely or chronically. It can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or infection with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. Certain diseases, such as pernicious anemia, autoimmune disorders, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well. Gastritis can be a brief and sudden illness (acute gastritis), a longer-lasting condition, or a special condition, perhaps as part of another medical illness. For most people, however, gastritis isn't serious and improves quickly with treatment.

Gastritis does not mean that there is an ulcer or cancer. An example of acute gastritis is stomach upset that may follow the use of alcohol. If the gastritis is related to smoking, quitting is recommended. Occasionally, gastritis may cause stomach bleeding, but it's rarely severe unless there's also ulceration of your stomach lining. Patients are also advised to avoid foods, beverages, or medications that cause symptoms or irritate the lining of the stomach. Digestive problems can occur no matter what your weight. But heartburn, bloating and constipation tend to be more common in people who are overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight can often help prevent or reduce these symptoms. Bleeding in your stomach can cause you to vomit blood or pass black, tarry stools and may require immediate medical care. Treatment depends on the specific cause. Some of the causes will resolve over time. Medications to decrease stomach acid secretion may be recommended. If your gastritis is related to an illness or infection, that problem will have to be treated as well. For example, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear up a bacterial infection or vitamin B 12 to treat anemia. Once the underlying problem disappears, the gastritis usually does, too.

Causes of Gastritis

The common causes and risk factor's of Gastritis include the following:

• Bacterial or viral infection (infection by a virus is contagious).
• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Certain types of radiation.
• Erosion (loss) of the protective layer of the stomach lining.
• Use of drugs such as Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, cortisone.
• Excess gastric acid secretion.
• Cigarette smoke.

Symptoms of Gastritis

Some sign and symptoms related to Gastritis are as follows:

• Abdominal cramping and pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Appetite loss.
• Belching or gas.
• Weakness.
• A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating.
• Abdominal indigestion.
• Vomiting blood or coffee-ground like material.

Treatment of Gastritis

Here is list of the methods for treating Gastritis:

• For minor discomfort use antacids such as mylanta or maalox, and tylenol; don't use aspirin. Don't eat solid foods on the first day of the attack, give your stomach a rest and drink liquids only, milk or water are preferred.
• For gastritis caused by infections, your doctor will prescribe a regimen of several antibiotics plus some sort of acid blocking drug (a heartburn drug).
• If the gastritis is caused by pernicious anemia, B12 vitamin shots will be given.
• When antacids don't provide enough relief, your doctor may recommend a medication such as cimetidine, ranitidine, nizatidine or famotidine that helps reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces.
• More severe cases may require hospitalization, especially if you have blood in your bowels.

Acute stress gastritis is a much more serious condition that can develop rapidly when a person is severely stressed physically - for example, when suffering from extensive burns or injury, head injury or organ failure. At first multiple superficial ulcers of the stomach lining develop, with nausea and indigestion that the patient may be too ill to complain of, Over a few days the ulcers may penetrate deeper layers of the stomach wall. and can lead to torrential bleeding and SHOCK. Fortunately patients are generally in hospital, where they can receive prompt blood transfusion and intensive care.

Chronic erosive gastritis is characterised by persistent or recurring multiple ulcers, superficial or deeper, of the stomach lining, causing vague indigestion or gnawing upper abdominal pain similar to that of PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE. The condition may be the result of chronic use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chronic alcoholism. CROHN'S DISEASEor some viral infections, or there may be no apparent cause. Diagnosis is by gastroscopy (internal examination of the stomach via a yiewing instrument). Treatment is by antacids to relieve the symptoms, and the eradication of known causes.

Chronic non-erosive gastritis is generalised inflammation of the stomach lining, now believed to be due to excessive growth af the' organism Helicobacterpylori, which lives in some of the lining cells. This condition generally causes vague indigestion and may increase' susceptibility to peptic ulcer disease af the stomach. It is more common over the age af 40. After diagnosis by gastroscopy and biopsy it is treated with antibiotics to eradicate H.pylori and other drugs to reduce the risk of peptic ulcer disease.