Complications
Rarely, complications arise in the case of a simple gastritis. Depending on the type of gastritis, a long period of illness can lead to stomach cancer, anemia, ulcers, vomiting blood and blood in the stool.
Prognosis
The prognosis varies depending on the type of gastritis. A type A gastritis is more difficult to cure than a type B gastritis, but it is also much less common. In most cases, the inflammation of the gastric mucosa heals within a few weeks to months without permanent damage.
Acute Gastritis
An acute (sudden) inflammation of the gastric mucosa begins quickly and often shows a connection with the intake of substances that irritate the mucosa. The mucous membrane of the stomach has a safe protective film that protects it from the aggressive stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) and enzymes (food digesting proteins) of the stomach. This protective layer can be attacked by various factors, so that the mucous membrane of the stomach can be attacked. Detailed information on the causes, symptoms and therapy of acute gastritis can be found under our topic: Acute gastritis
Chronic gastritis
In general it can be said that an existing discrepancy between factors that damage the mucous membrane (e.g. gastric acid) and those that protect it (mucous layer) can lead to chronic gastritis. The chronic gastritis is divided into 3 types:
- Type A gastritis: Autoimmune gastritis: Here, antibodies (proteins of the immune system) are directed against the body’s own stomach structures (stomach).
- Type B gastritis: Bacterial gastritis: Here, an inflammation with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori causes erosions (superficial damage) on the mucous membrane.
- Type C Gastritis: Chemically-induced gastritis: In this form of the disease, pain medication such as Voltaren (NSAIDs), but also a number of other drugs and chemical substances such as alcohol or the reflux of bile acids (heartburn reflux disease) are responsible for the inflammation of the stomach lining.
