Gastritis Symptoms

Gastritis is a common ailment reported regardless the age or gender. It is caused by inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis can be broadly categorized into two groups: chronic and acute. Chronic gastritis occur due to long term corrosion of stomach lining. Acute gastritis is the sudden occurrence of gastritis symptoms. If not proper treatment is administered chronic gastritis may last for several years.

It is noteworthy that many patients suffering from gastritis do not exhibit noticeable gastritis symptoms. Common gastritis symptoms are: discomfort or pains occurring in upper abdomen, vomiting and nausea. These are medically referred to as dyspepsia. However, long term corrosion of stomach lining may cause the onset of gastritis symptoms like black stool, bloody vomit and red blood in stool. Other gastritis symptoms, although not quite as conclusive as the previously mentioned, include loss of appetite, indigestion, hiccups and burning sensation in the stomach between meals.

When the gastritis symptoms first set in, it is important that the patient seeks medical advice. The longer treatment is delayed, the more severe the damage to stomach lining will become. This will lead to complications such as peptic ulcers and even life threatening diseases such as gastric cancers. The most widely used and the most effective diagnostic measure is the endoscopy. Using the endoscopy doctors can gain a vivid understanding of how serious the inflammation is and what treatment would be most suitable. In some cases, inflammations can occur in different parts of the digestive system such as the esophagus, and intestines, yet the patient may complain of similar symptoms. The endoscopy helps alleviate such confusions and allows the patient to receive the most effective treatment possible. Other than the endoscopy, tests such as upper gastrointestinal series, blood tests and stool tests are also carried out to diagnose gastritis.

Gastritis symptoms may be caused by several factors. Helicobactor pylori (a bacteria living in stomach) infections, alcohol use, intake of medicine such as aspirin etc. and also stress are some of the most prominent causes. Treatment for gastritis involve administering antacids, instructing the patient on dietary changes (reducing hot and spicy food), and antibiotics if the symptoms are caused by bacterial infections. Usually Gastritis symptoms begin to fade when treatment has begun. However, when the patient is required to be treated for other sicknesses it is important that the his/her doctor is informed about the history of gastritis so that new treatments do not trigger gastritis as a side effect.

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