Introduction
Burning in the stomach can have many causes and can become a real problem for those affected. Behind the burning sensation is often a harmless gastrointestinal infection, but appendicitis or reflux can also be hidden behind the burning sensation in the stomach. Other symptoms, such as nausea, fever or vomiting, can provide further clues as to the origin of the problem.
Burning in the stomach on the right side
One speaks of appendicitis when the small appendix vermiformis of our actual appendix is inflamed. The disease can often be observed, especially in children and adolescents, but also in adults. Typically, appendicitis begins suddenly with dull, hard-to-locate abdominal pain.
Within the first 24 hours the pain “migrates” to the right lower abdomen. Those affected then often perceive the pain as a “burning” or “stinging” sensation and can easily identify the location of the pain. Often nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting or fever are added.
Decisive for the diagnosis are the described symptoms and pressure pain in the right lower abdomen. For an exact assessment your doctor can examine defined points (e.g. McBurney point) using imaginary connecting lines in the right lower abdomen and assess the painfulness. In the case of appendicitis, irritation of these points causes a significant worsening of the symptoms, such as burning in the abdomen.
Therapeutically, the surgical removal of the inflamed appendicitis is in the foreground. In Germany, this operation (appendectomy) is one of the most common operations and usually only takes a few minutes. Only in the case of very mild symptoms it may make sense to delay the surgical removal for the time being.
However, if the patient waits too long or the diagnosis is even wrong, the inflamed appendix can “burst open” or “break through”. Germs, bacteria or faeces get into the peritoneal cavity and can cause a life-threatening peritonitis there. Normally, however, the disease is detected in time and can be operated on without any problems, so that no serious complications are to be expected. Only in the case of small children, elderly or pregnant women the symptoms may vary. For example, older people often only have persistent feelings of pressure in the abdomen instead of a sudden burning sensation.
Burning in the middle of the stomach
Do you suffer from burning in the middle of the upper abdomen? Accompanied by nausea and a feeling of fullness? Under certain circumstances, this may be caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (gastritis).
In this clinical picture, aggressive stomach acid attacks the mucous membrane inside the stomach. Hot spicy food, coffee and stress promote the development just as nicotine, alcohol or bacteria do. Typically, the painful burning sensation is located just behind the sternum and is often associated with increased belching.
In the middle of the upper abdomen, patients often feel a gnawing sensation of hunger and reduced appetite. To relieve the burning sensation in the abdomen, avoiding coffee, spicy food, alcohol or fatty foods can already help. Short-term complaints can be treated with gastric acid-inhibiting medication (proton pump inhibitors, PPI).
In the long term, however, the cause of the inflammation of the stomach lining must be sought, as this is the only way to provide adequate treatment. A gastroscopy is often performed for this purpose. During this examination, real-time images of the inside of the stomach and small samples taken from the mucous membrane can be taken with the help of a small camera. If left untreated, a persistent inflammation of the gastric mucosa can develop into a gastric ulcer with the risk of a life-threatening gastric perforation.
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