Symptoms
Possible symptoms of gastritis include a feeling of pressure and fullness, pain in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Bleeding may occur. Symptoms may worsen or improve after eating. Possible complications include a chronic course, stomach and intestinal ulcers, bleeding, gastric rupture, stomach cancer, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Medical attention should be sought immediately if alarm symptoms such as vomiting blood or blood in the stool occur.
Causes
Gastritis is the term used to describe acute or chronic inflammation of the stomach lining. It is often accompanied by a disorder of the protective layer of the stomach. A common cause is a local infection with the gram-negative bacterium . Aggressive substances such as alcohol, numerous painkillers (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs), cytostatics, potassium chloride and glucocorticoids are also often responsible for gastritis. Other possible causes include:
- Autoimmune disease against the accessory cells
- Physical or psychological stress: injuries, accidents, burns, sepsis.
- Infectious diseases: Viruses, fungi, worms, bacteria.
- Bile reflux
- Atrophic gastritis, eosinophilic gastritis, uremic gastritis, granulomatous gastritis, lymphocytic gastritis.
- Hyperplastic gastritis: giant fold gastritis, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made in medical treatment based on the patient’s history, clinical picture, with gastroscopy (gastroscopy), biospy, laboratory methods (Helicobacter pylori detection) and imaging techniques.
Nonpharmacologic treatment
Acute gastritis often resolves on its own. Avoid irritating foods and stimulants such as alcohol, smoking, and coffee. Trigger medications such as NSAIDs should be changed or discontinued if possible. Eat a light, tolerable diet.
Drug treatment
Treatment is based on the cause. Medications used include proton pump inhibitors such as pantoprazole (Pantozol, generic) and esomeprazole (Nexium, generic). They reduce the secretion of stomach acid and thus protect the stomach lining. Other acid inhibitors such as H2 antihistamines (ranitidine, Zantic) and antacids such as Riopan or Alucol are also used. Some antacids such as sucralfate (Ulcogant) also form a protective layer on the mucosa. For pain, paracetamol (e.g., Panadol) rather than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should preferably be administered. For nausea and bloating, prokinetics such as domperidone (Motilium) and metoclopramide (Paspertin) are given. If infection is present with , eradication with antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors may be indicated (see ).
