Gastritis

Patient Education

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the stomach lining. It occurs when the stomach lining gets damaged and comes in contact with acid secreted by the stomach.

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

The patients usually present with abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, gaseous distension, heart pain, belching. In severe cases can present with bleeding episodes.

What are the risk factors for gastritis?

The use of NSAIDs, stress, smoking, spicy food is some of the risk factors. Infection with bacteria Helicobacter pylori is an important risk factor for gastritis. This infection is usually acquired by poor environmental hygiene and cooking habits.

How do we diagnose gastritis?

There are many non-invasive tests like a urea breath test, blood, and stool tests for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. However, they are not always diagnostic. Hence gastroscopy may be advised which can detect ulcers, bleeding, etc. It is also helpful to obtain a biopsy sample of stomach mucosa for histopathological evaluation.

How do we treat gastritis?

It is important to reduce the stress, avoid certain food items, bring lifestyle and diet changes; if found to aggravate the symptoms. Medical treatment includes drugs that decrease the acid secretion in stomach such as proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole or pantoprazole), H2 blockers (ranitidine or famotidine), antacids. If the gastritis is caused by H. pylori infection, proton pump inhibitors are combined with antibiotics. If it is caused by some painkiller, you can consult your doctor to switch to a different medication or to take a pain killer with an acid lowering agent.