ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Gastritis

What is gastritis?

4 May 2021

Gastritis is considered to be a set of conditions that cause inflammation of the stomach lining, whose main causes are bacterial infection by Helicobacter pylori, excessive intake of medications, and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee.

It is possible that this condition appears suddenly, which is considered acute gastritis, or it can appear progressively, being chronic gastritis.

If not diagnosed and treated promptly, gastritis can cause stomach ulcers and be a risk factor for developing stomach cancer. However, in most cases, it does not usually cause serious problems and is reversed with appropriate treatment.

Signs and symptoms Gastritis

Although sometimes it does not have clear symptoms, the most common symptoms are:

  • Heartburn.
  • Tightness in the upper abdomen accompanied by a feeling of being full after eating even a small amount of food.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

You should see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms for more than seven consecutive days.

Potential risks:

  • Helicobacter pylori infection: this bacteria is present in a high percentage of people and its high incidence is considered to be due to genetic factors and eating habits or tobacco or alcohol addictions.
  • Anxiety and stress: they are considered factors that can cause acute gastritis that, if left untreated, can become chronic.
  • Medication abuse: excessive intake of painkillers can damage the stomach lining, leaving it at the mercy of stomach acids involved in digestion.
  • Alcoholism and smoking: these substances abuse damages the stomach lining.
  • Autoimmune diseases and others: patients with type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto’s disease are prone to gastritis, as are those with parasitosis, AIDS, and Crohn’s disease.
  • Seniors: people in this stage of life are at greater risk of suffering from it due to the natural weakening of the stomach lining.

Diagnosis and treatment Gastritis

After analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, your doctor will order a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions that could contribute to your discomfort.

The most common tests include:

  • Blood, stool, or breath test to check for Helicobacter pylori infection.
  • Endoscopy to observe the digestive tract and take a tissue biopsy to analyze in the laboratory.
  • Abdominal X-rays.

The treatment to be followed is established according to the direct cause of gastritis, but usually includes the following:

  • Antibiotics: if the cause is Helicobacter pylori infection, you will be prescribed several antibiotics since it is usually a bacteria resistant to various drugs.
  • Antacids: they block acid production, helping damaged tissue to heal.
  • Immediate-acting antacids: they quickly alkalinize stomach acid, relieving discomfort, but do not attack the direct cause.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Gastritis

Internal Medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • msdmanuals.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • topdoctors.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Rios-González CM, de Benedictis-Serrano GA, Partera-Trillos AA. Gastritis por estrés psicosocial en estudiantes de Medicina: una problemática que amerita solución. Inv Ed Med. 2018;7(27):98-99.
  • Vidal VM, Barrios RJA, Serrano RL, et al. Infección por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes con enfermedades digestivas. Revista de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana. 2020;27(4):541-551.
  • Rodríguez RJF, Boffill CAM, Rodríguez SLA, et al. Factores de riesgo asociados a la gastritis aguda o crónica en adultos de un hospital ecuatoriano. MediSan. 2019;23(03):424-434.
  • Jiménez VM, Romero CA, Brenes ZMJ. Prevención del cáncer gástrico y erradicación de Helicobacter pylori. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2019;4(11):293.

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    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.