Gastritis

Introduction

Gastritis is a medical condition that is characterized by inflammation, irritation, or inflammation of the stomach lining. It can develop sudden (acute gastritis) or gradually (chronic gastritis) over time. This condition is usually due to prolonged use of some drugs such as infection, NSAID, excessive alcohol consumption, stress or autoimmune disorders. Symptoms may reduce abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, swelling and appetite. If left untreated, severe cases may cause ulcers or abdominal bleeding.

Types of Gastritis

Acute gastritis

Acute gastritis develops suddenly, causing severe inflammation due to infection, alcohol, medications or spicy foods, causing pain, nausea and vomiting.

Chronic gastritis

Chronic gastritis infections are slowly over time due to infection, autoimmune disorders, or irritability, causing mild abdominal discomfort, swelling, fatigue and indigestion.

Erosive Gastritis

Erosiv gastritis damages the lining of the stomach due to damage, alcohol or NSAID, resulting in ulcers, bleeding, and abdominal pain.

Autoimmune gastritis

Autoimmune gastritis occurs when the immune system attacks abdominal cells, reducing acid production, causing vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia and digestive problems.

Causes of Gastritis:

A bacterial infection causes Helicobacter pylori damage to the stomach lining and causes chronic gastritis.
Excessive alcohol consumption irritates abdominal lining, causing inflammation and painful gastritis.
Regular use of painkillers such as aspirin weakens the stomach lining and causes gastritis.
Crisis or trauma increases acid production due to severe stress, causing stomach inflammation.
Autoimmune disorders attack abdominal cells, reduce acids and cause chronic gastritis.
The bile reflux flows back into the abdomen, disturbs and provokes its lining.
Smoking increases abdominal acid, weakens protection, and contributes to developing gastritis.
Some viral, fungal and parasitic infections damage the stomach lining due to gastritis.
Food allergy irritates abdominal lining, triggers inflammation and deteriorates the symptoms of gastritis.
Radiation or chemotherapy treatments damage the stomach lining and give rise to severe gastritis.

Clinical features of Gastritis:

Abdominal pain and discomfort

Gastritis causes upper abdominal irritation or severe pain, which worsens after eating spicy or acidic foods.

Nausea and Vomiting

Inflammation of the stomach lining causes persistent nausea and vomiting, sometimes in severe gastritis cases.

Indigestion and Bloating

Patients often experience indigestion, swelling, excessive burial and perfection even after consuming small amounts of food.

Decrease in appetite

Gastritis reduces appetite significantly, which reduces food intake, reduces weakness and inadvertent weight over time.

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Severe gastritis damages the stomach lining, causing bleeding, vomiting blood, or black, torrenti stool

Symptoms associated with Gastritis:

A sharp, burning, or gnawing pain occurs in the upper abdomen, often worsening after meals.

Constant feelings of stomach disease or restlessness, sometimes vomiting.

There may be frequent vomiting; In severe cases, it may include materials such as blood or coffee-ground.

Excessive gas buildup in the stomach causes a feeling of inflammation, discomfort and perfection.

Reduced hunger and desire to eat due to constant stomach irritation and discomfort.

Difficulty digesting food, leading to a burning sensation, burping, and stomach heaviness.

Severe gastritis can cause bleeding in the stomach, resulting in dark, tarry stools.

Prolonged gastritis with bleeding can lead to anemia, causing extreme tiredness and weakness.

Investigations in Gastritis:

Endoscopy uses a flexible tube with a camera to check the lining of the abdomen. It detects inflammation, erosion, ulcers and bleeding. Biopsy to H. Pylori can also be taken for testing or to rule cancer, provides an accurate diagnosis and guides proper treatment schemes for gastritis patients.

Tests for H. pylori, including urea breath tests, stool antigen tests, and blood antibody tests, help identify bacterial infection. Detecting the infection allows targeted antibiotic treatment, confirming bacterial involvement, and distinguishing other gastritis causes, ensuring accurate and effective management for better symptom relief and long-term outcomes.

Blood tests evaluate anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, and overall health in gastritis patients. They also check inflammatory markers and help detect chronic gastritis or autoimmune involvement. Abnormal results indicate bleeding, malabsorption, or persistent inflammation, providing essential information for comprehensive diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and guiding effective treatment strategies.

Stool tests detect gastrointestinal bleeding, H. pylori antigens, and infections. Occult blood in the stool may indicate erosive gastritis or ulcers. Stool analysis also helps rule out parasitic or bacterial causes mimicking gastritis. This non-invasive method provides valuable insight into digestive health and aids in planning targeted therapy.

Helps assess complications such as imaging, holes, obstruction or severe inflammation, including abdominal X-rays and CT scans. While not regular, imaging provides structural and physical information, especially when endoscopy or laboratory tests are indorators, guide doctors in planning proper medical or surgical intervention for gastritis management.

A gastric biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the stomach lining during endoscopy. This h. Pylori helps in confirming infection, detecting atrophic changes, metaplasia or maliciousness. The biopsy provides certain evidence of the underlying pathology, allowing accurate diagnosis, proper treatment and monitoring of chronic or complex gastritis conditions.

The urea breath test identifies active H. pylori infection by detecting urease activity. The patient ingests a labeled urea solution, and exhaled CO₂ is analyzed. It is non-invasive, accurate, and useful for diagnosis before treatment and for confirming eradication after therapy, ensuring effective management of bacterial gastritis.

Blood serology h. Detects antibodies against Pylori. Although it cannot separate active from previous infection, it provides supporting evidence of exposure. Serological tests help doctors in assessing gastritis etiology and plan treatment when other clinical methods are unavailable in limited resources or when other clinical methods are unavailable.

This test examines for hidden blood in the stool, indicating gastrointestinal bleeding caused by aeroctive or ulcerative gastritis. Positive results help to identify patients at risk of complications and further examine, such as endoscopy, such as bleeding sites and help apply proper treatment measures.

Gastric acid analysis measures stomach acid production. It helps evaluate hypochlorhyderia or hyper circlehyderia, which can occur in chronic or autoimmune gastritis. The level of abnormal acid helps in understanding the disease system, guides treatment decisions such as acid suppression therapy, and management monitors the patient’s response to strategies.