Dr Lalitha Badul
Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining and is usually termed acute or chronic gastritis.
There are many causes like other infectious agents, autoimmune problems, diseases like Crohn’s disease, sarcoidosis, and isolated granulomatosis gastritis.
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Although many individuals with gastritis may have no symptoms, both acute and chronic gastritis may have symptoms of:
• abdominal pain,
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• occasionally, belching, bloating, loss of appetite and indigestion.
Gastritis can be diagnosed by the patient’s symptoms and history or by breath, blood, stool, immunological, and biopsy tests to detect H. pylori and other tests such as endoscopy or radiologic studies demonstrate mucosal changes.
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The treatment for gastritis varies according to the cause. Other less common causes may be treated similarly, but do not treat the underlying cause. Complications from acute gastritis are rare.
Complications from chronic gastritis include peptic ulcer, bleeding ulcers, anemia, gastric cancers, MALT lymphoma, renal problems, strictures, bowel obstruction, or even death.
People with acute gastritis usually recover completely with no complications. Chronic gastritis may have a range of outcomes from good to poor if serious complications develop.
If underlying causes of gastritis are treated or not used, gastritis also may be prevented.
