GASTRITIS
Definition
Any irritation, inflammation or erosion of the lining inside the stomach is called gastritis.
Causes
Gastritis can be caused by numerous causes such as chronic vomiting, stress, excessive alcohol use or medications (NSAIDs, aspirin). Other causes include infection caused by bacteria and viruses, backflow of bile inside the stomach and the well known infection of Helicobacter pylori which, if left untreated, can lead to ulcers.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of gastritis include abdominal pain and bloating, vomiting, hiccups, indigestion, loss of appetite and maybe black stools.
Diagnosis
In order for gastritis to be diagnosed, the doctor will take the full history of the patient, perform a full physical evaluation and proceed to blood tests, stool tests and upper endoscopy.
Treatment
Initially treatment involves taking antacids to reduce stomach acids, avoiding hot and spicy foods and generally eliminating irritating foods from diet. If a H. pylori infection is present, antibiotics will be prescribed for a long period of time. If gastritis is due to pernicious anemia, B12 shots will be given.
Prognosis
All symptoms of gastritis usually go away as soon as the underlying cause is treated so prognosis is overall very good. However, if left untreated, gastritis can cause ulcers and stomach cancer.
Prevention
All irritating foods and unnecessary NSAIDs and aspirins should be avoided. Always pay attention to the patient’s stools as long as the regular