Medical: Gastritis Gastroenteritis, inflammation of mucous membranes
Complaints of inflammation of the gastric mucosa
Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and is accompanied by various symptoms, depending on the course of the disease. The chronic form of the gastritis is usually asymptomatic for a very long time, as the inflammation develops only slowly. If the disease is already more advanced, a so-called hunger pain can occur.
In this case, the patients suffer from a hunger that is sometimes difficult to bear, but after a few bites they are already full and suffer from a feeling of fullness. In addition, diffuse abdominal pain, heartburn, a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen and digestive disorders such as diarrhea can occur. Especially heartburn and abdominal pain at night can also occur.
If the inflammation of the stomach mucous membrane has existed for so long that the inflammation leads to bleeding erosions of the mucous membrane, anaemia can occur. This is accompanied by paleness, a general feeling of weakness, tiredness or unintentional weight loss. In general, however, chronic gastritis in particular is often diagnosed very late and by then major complications such as bleeding have already occurred.
Acute gastritis, on the other hand, shows very clear and sudden symptoms. Patients suffer from sudden nausea and vomiting, acid belching, heartburn, a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen as well as pain in the upper abdomen or an unpleasant taste in the mouth. The abdominal pain may also occur in the form of colic.
These symptoms usually become more pronounced immediately after eating or drinking. Some patients also report an aversion to specific foods, which was unknown before the disease. Since pain in the upper abdomen can also be felt behind the breastbone, some acute gastritis is initially confused with a heart attack.
If the stomach acid causes bleeding of the stomach lining, patients may also vomit blood or excrete blood in the stool. Due to the gastric acid, the blood coagulates and therefore turns black. Doctors then speak of coffee grounds breakage or tarry stools.