Medical: gastritis, gastroenteritis, inflammation of mucous membranes
Definition Gastritis
Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) is an inflammation of the stomach lining in which one: distinguishes
- An acute inflammation of the stomach mucosa and
- A chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa
This means that not all layers of the stomach are affected, but only the inner layer of the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane layer has the task of protecting the stomach from the aggressive substances in the stomach, i.e. the substances contained in the stomach acid. The stomach produces the gastric acid to break down and partially absorb the food.
The substances that cannot be absorbed migrate further into the intestines where they are broken down and absorbed. If this protective mucous membrane layer is injured, inflammation and pain in the stomach occurs.
- Esophagus (esophagus)
- Cardia
- Corpus
- Small Curvature
- Fundus
- Large Curvature
- Duodenum (duodenum)
- Pylorus
- Antrum
- Mucosa (mucous membrane)
- Ulcer (stomach ulcer)
- Submucosa (connective tissue)
- Blood vessels If the mucous membrane is damaged, this can extend into the connective tissue underneath, which can lead to gastric bleeding.
Types
Basically there are 3 different types of chronic gastritis:
- Type A Gastritis
- Type B Gastritis
- Type C Gastritis
Cause
Gastritis can have a variety of causes. An exact clarification of the cause is often only possible through gastroscopy, especially in chronic cases. In this procedure, samples of the stomach lining are taken and then examined in the laboratory.
Common causes of acute inflammation are excessive alcohol consumption or the consumption of spoiled food. In the chronic course of an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, a distinction is made clinically between several types (A-D), with the most common cause being a bacterial or viral infection. Depending on the cause, gastritis can be divided into different classes: Type A gastritis: Type A gastritis is caused by an autoimmune disease, which is based on the fact that the body’s defense system recognizes the body’s own structures as foreign and begins to fight them similarly to pathogens, leading to inflammation and cell destruction.
Why the immune cells attack the stomach in type A gastritis is still not understood. The destruction of the so-called “Belegzellen”, which produce gastric acid, triggers a chain reaction that ends in a cell proliferation. In the worst case a stomach cancer develops.
Another consequence of type A gastritis can be a vitamin B12 deficiency, which in turn can lead to anemia. This type of gastritis occurs rather rarely, with less than 10% of cases. Type B gastritis: Type B gastritis is the most common form of gastritis with over 80% of cases.
It is caused by bacteria, especially Helicobacter pylori. An infection with this germ is one of the most common worldwide. Helicobacter pylori feels very comfortable in the extremely low pH-value of our stomach and spreads through the stomach wall, which leads to irritation and inflammation of it.
These bacteria are usually transmitted by fecal-oral absorption, which means that they can be passed on due to lack of hygiene. Helicobacter pylori can also cause stomach ulcers and heartburn. However, the bacterium can easily be detected by a breath test or gastroscopy and can be well treated by a triple combination of antibiotics and acid blockers (triple therapy).
The two scientists who were able to prove that Helicobacter pylori is the cause of gastritis were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2005 for their discovery. Type C gastritis: Another 10% of patients with gastritis have type C gastritis, which is chemically induced. By chemical, almost any substance can be meant, whereby type C gastritis is usually caused by medication.
Certain drugs, especially NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as diclofenac or ibuprofen inhibit the protective production of mucus and, by shifting the balance between attacking and protective gastric juices in favor of the aggressive gastric acid, promote the development of gastritis. Other painkillers such as paracetamol can also have a beneficial effect on the development of inflammation.High nicotine or alcohol consumption and acidic foods can also lead to gastritis. Another well-known representative of the harmful substances are corticosteroids, colloquially known as “cortisone“.
Food poisoning is also one of the chemical causes of inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The culprit can also be the body’s own bile acids, which enter the stomach from the duodenum in retrograde direction.
- Type A gastritis: Type A gastritis is caused by an autoimmune disease, which is based on the fact that the immune system recognizes the body’s own structures as foreign and starts to fight them similar to pathogens, leading to inflammation and cell destruction.
Why the immune cells attack the stomach in type A gastritis is still not understood. The destruction of the so-called “Belegzellen”, which produce gastric acid, triggers a chain reaction that ends in a cell proliferation. In the worst case a stomach cancer develops.
Another consequence of type A gastritis can be a vitamin B12 deficiency, which in turn can lead to anemia. This type of gastritis occurs rather rarely, with less than 10% of cases.
- Type B gastritis: Type B gastritis is the most common form of gastritis with over 80% of cases. It is caused by bacteria, especially Helicobacter pylori.
An infection with this germ is one of the most common worldwide. Helicobacter pylori feels very comfortable in the extremely low pH-value of our stomach and spreads through the stomach wall, which leads to irritation and inflammation of it. These bacteria are usually transmitted by fecal-oral absorption, which means that they can be passed on due to lack of hygiene.
Helicobacter pylori can also cause stomach ulcers and heartburn. However, the bacterium can easily be detected by a breath test or gastroscopy and can be well treated by a triple combination of antibiotics and acid blockers (triple therapy). The two scientists who were able to prove that Helicobacter pylori is the cause of gastritis were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2005 for their discovery.
- Type C gastritis: A further 10% of those affected with gastritis have type C gastritis, which is chemically triggered.
By chemical, almost any substance can be meant, whereby type C gastritis is usually caused by medication. Certain drugs, especially NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as diclofenac or ibuprofen inhibit the protective production of mucus and, by shifting the balance between attacking and protective gastric juices in favor of the aggressive gastric acid, promote the development of gastritis. Other painkillers such as paracetamol can also have a beneficial effect on the development of inflammation.
Also a high nicotine or alcohol consumption and acidic food can lead to an inflammation of the stomach mucosa. Another well-known representative of the harmful substances are corticosteroids, colloquially known as “cortisone“. Food poisoning is also one of the chemical causes of inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The culprit can also be the body’s own bile acids, which enter the stomach from the duodenum in retrograde direction.
