Gastritis is a condition in which the stomach lining—known as the mucosa—is inflamed. The stomach lining contains special cells that produce acid and enzymes, which help break down food for digestion, and mucus, which protects the stomach lining from acid. When the stomach lining is inflamed, it produces less acid, enzymes, and mucus. Gastritis may be acute or chronic. Sudden, severe inflammation of the stomach lining is called acute gastritis. Inflammation that lasts for a long time is called chronic gastritis. If chronic gastritis is not treated, it may last for years or even a lifetime. Erosive gastritis is a type of gastritis that often does not cause significant inflammation but can wear away the stomach lining. Erosive gastritis can cause bleeding, erosions, or ulcers. Erosive gastritis may be acute or chronic. The relationship between gastritis and symptoms is not clear. The term gastritis refers specifically to abnormal inflammation in the stomach lining. People who have gastritis may experience pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, but many people with gastritis do not have any symptoms. The term gastritis is sometimes mistakenly used to describe any symptoms of pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Many diseases and disorders can cause these symptoms. Most people who have upper abdominal symptoms do not have gastritis.

1. Fitango Education
Health Topics
Gastritis
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2. Overview
Gastritis is a condition in which the stomach
lining—known as the mucosa—is inflamed. The
stomach lining contains special
cells that produce acid and enzymes, which help
break down food for digestion,
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3. Overview
and mucus, which protects the stomach lining
from acid. When the stomach lining
is inflamed, it produces less acid, enzymes, and
mucus.
Gastritis may be acute or chronic. Sudden,
severe inflammation of the stomach lining is called
acute gastritis. Inflammation
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4. Overview
that lasts for a long time is called chronic gastritis.
If chronic gastritis is
not treated, it may last for years or even a lifetime.
Erosive gastritis is a type of gastritis that
often does not cause significant inflammation but
can wear away the stomach
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5. Overview
lining. Erosive gastritis can cause
bleeding, erosions, or ulcers. Erosive
gastritis may be acute or chronic.
The relationship between gastritis and
symptoms is not clear. The term gastritis refers
specifically to abnormal
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6. Overview
inflammation in the stomach lining. People who
have gastritis may experience
pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, but
many people with gastritis do not
have any symptoms.
The term gastritis is sometimes mistakenly
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7. Overview
used to describe any symptoms of pain or
discomfort in the upper abdomen. Many
diseases and disorders can cause these symptoms.
Most people who have upper
abdominal symptoms do not have gastritis.
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8. Symptoms
Many people with gastritis do not have any
symptoms.
Symptoms you may notice are:
-- Loss of appetite
-- Nausea and
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9. Symptoms
vomiting
-- Pain in the upper
part of the belly or abdomen
If gastritis is causing bleeding from the
lining of the stomach, symptoms may include:
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10. Symptoms
-- Black stools
-- Vomiting blood
or coffee-ground like material
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11. Diagnoses
Tests that may be needed are:
-- Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia
or
low blood count
-- Examination of
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12. Diagnoses
the stomach with an endoscope
(esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)
-- H. pylori tests
-- Stool test to
check for small amounts of blood in the stools,
which may be a sign of bleeding
in the stomach
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13. Treatment
Treatment depends on the specific cause. Some
of the causes will disappear over time.
You may need to stop taking
aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or
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14. Treatment
other medicines that may be causing gastritis, but
only after you talk with
your health care provider.
You may use other over-the-counter and
prescription drugs that decrease the amount of
acid in the stomach, such as:
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15. Treatment
-- Antacids
-- H2 antagonists: famotidine
(Pepsid), cimetidine
(Tagamet), ranitidine
(Zantac), and nizatidine
(Axid)
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16. Treatment
-- Proton pump
inhibitors (PPIs) -- omeprazole
(Prilosec), esomeprazole
(Nexium), iansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole
(AcipHex), and pantoprazole
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17. Treatment
(Protonix)
Antacids may be used to treat chronic
gastritis caused by infection with Helicobacter
pylori bacteria.
The outlook depends on the cause, but is
usually good.
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18. Causes
The most common causes of gastritis are:
-- Certain
medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen,
or naproxen,
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19. Causes
when taken over a longer period of time
-- Drinking too much
alcohol
-- Infection of the
stomach with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
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20. Causes
Less common causes are:
-- Autoimmune disorders (such as pernicious
anemia)
-- Backflow of bile into
the stomach (bile reflux)
-- Cocaine abuse
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21. Causes
-- Eating or
drinking caustic or corrosive substances (such as
poisons)
-- Extreme stress
-- Viral infection,
such as cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex
virus, especially in people with a
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22. Causes
weak immune system
Trauma or a severe, sudden illness such as
major surgery, kidney failure, or being placed on a
breathing machine may cause
gastritis.
Blood loss and increased risk of gastric
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23. Causes
cancer are possible complications. Call for an
appointment with your health
care provider if you develop:
-- Pain in the upper
part of the belly or abdomen that does not go
away
-- Black or tarry
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24. Causes
stools
-- Vomiting blood or
coffee-ground-like material
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25. Prevention
Avoid long-term use of irritants (such as aspirin,
anti-inflammatory drugs, or alcohol).
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