Gastritis - Inflammation Of The Stomach Lining

Gastritis

Simply defined as inflammation of the gastric mucosa.

It may occur as an Acute gastritis when symptoms appear within a few days or it may be chronic when it is present for a long time.

Clinical Features include

-         -vague symptoms like nausea, sometimes vomiting , loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain or discomfort.

-        - Upper gastrointestinal bleeding

-         -Mild epigastric tenderness on palpation which may or may not be present.

Underlying Causes include

-         -Stress

-         -Use of NSAIDs

-        - Alcohol

-         -H.pylori Gastritis

-         -Radiation therapy

-         -Any acute disease or surgery

-        - Cancer of the stomach or pancreas

Differential Diagnosis

-Peptic Ulcer disease.

- Functional or non ulcer dyspepsia

- GERD

- Viral gastroenteritis

- indigestion from iver eating, high fat food.

- Biliary Disease

- Pancreatitis

- Cholecystitis

- Angina (Ischemic heart disease )

 

How to Manage

Avoid the precipitating factors like NSAIDs, alcohol, caffeine, cigratte smoking and high fat diet.

Workup to look for the presence of H pylori, and treat if present.

Medicines like proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole) and H2 receptor blockers (Ranitidine) are helpful.