Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining/gastric mucosa. It is caused by myriad factors, the most important being a bacterial infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) of the stomach gastric mucosa. Other causes include regular use of pain relievers, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin; use of corticosteroids; excessive alcohol usage; stress; bile reflux disease; and other medical conditions such as infections and food poisoning.
Causes of Acute Gastritis
There are two types of gastritis: acute and chronic gastritis. Acute gastritis is usually caused by drugs such as aspirin or alcohol use, occurs suddenly and is a brief illness. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are erosive to the protective lining in the stomach, and in regularly increased doses, can result in injury leading to gastritis. Since aspirin and ibuprofen are over-the-counter medications, they are easily accessible. A regular consumer of alcohol who is also taking aspirin increases the risk of acute gastritis.
Symptoms of Acute Gastritis
Symptoms of sudden burning pain, nausea and discomfort in the upper abdomen are key to acute gastritis. Sometimes the pain is described as being sharp and stabbing. There is usually some mild epigastric tenderness. This is due to the inflammation of the stomach lining. Vomiting, which is sometimes blood-streaked, can also accompany the pain, and it may be affected by eating. Some patients mistake their symptoms for acid reflux disease, but with acute gastritis, belching does not help with pain relief. In the elderly, there is usually no real symptoms associated with acute gastritis. The severity of pain does not usually describe the extent of stomach inflammation. There is usually abdominal bloating, indigestion, hiccups, loss of appetite and black, tarry stools. Patients usually present with regular use of aspirins at high doses, or corticosteroids, and might have a history of previous mucosal injury such as peptic ulcer.
Diagnosis of Acute Gastritis
Due to its similarities to other common digestive symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose acute gastritis. A doctor will need to conduct a proper history and physical examination before coming to that conclusion. The following tests may be recommended: upper endoscopy (to check for stomach inflammation), blood tests (to check for pernicious anemia and Helicobacter pylori) and a stool test (to check for blood in the stool).
