Causes Of Acute Gastritis, Its Symptoms And Treatment Methods

By Author: Shree Gastrocare
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Sharp pains, nausea, bloated stomach, and the feeling of burning sensation in the upper abdomen can interfere with your daily life and make it hard to eat. Such symptoms may signal that your stomach is suffering from acute gastritis when the stomach lining becomes inflamed all of a sudden. The inflammation may vary in degree of severity depending on its causes.
Recognizing the causes of the illness, learning about its first symptoms, and getting professional medical advice will help you not to complicate the situation and recover fast. Shree Gastrocare can provide you with the help of the doctors specializing in gastroenterology in order to understand your digestion problems and treat them.
What Is Acute Gastritis?
Acute gastritis occurs when your stomach lining gets inflamed rapidly. The inner wall of the stomach has a protective coating which prevents the gastric acids from hurting the walls. This coating can become irritated and inflamed.
In contrast to chronic gastritis that can last for several months or ...
... even years, acute type typically appears suddenly and is known to subside if the underlying cause is taken care of. Nevertheless, there are instances wherein erosions or ulcers can be developed.
There are individuals who don’t feel any symptoms, while others suffer from slight to severe indigestion, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Again, this will depend on the cause and irritation of the stomach lining.
What Causes Acute Gastritis?
Many factors can lead to irritation or damage to the stomach lining. In order to prescribe an appropriate treatment, it is necessary to identify the underlying cause first.
1. Consuming Too Much Alcohol
Consuming too much alcohol is known to irritate the stomach lining. The protective lining of the stomach is affected by alcohol and thus may result in inflammation.
2. Certain Pain Relieving Medications
Certain drugs belonging to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory class, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, may influence the way our body protects the stomach lining. Taking them regularly, taking large amounts, or long-term use may lead to development of irritation, ulcers, and bleeding in the stomach.
Those who use these medications regularly need to talk to a health professional about it and not stop using the drug on their own.
3. Certain Types of Bacterial Infections
Bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, are linked to the inflammation of the stomach lining. This type of bacteria often leads to development of chronic gastritis, but it is also worth checking for when considering persistent digestive problems.
A doctor may conduct certain tests to check whether there is an infection.
4. Extreme Physical Stress
Severe illness, operations, burns, or serious injuries may damage the stomach lining in some cases. This is not the same as psychological stress and refers to individuals with serious physical illnesses.
5. Other Iritating Agents
Some medications or other chemicals may injure the stomach lining. The particular cause of the problem is individual from person to person, therefore a proper medical consultation is needed if the symptoms arise suddenly or severely.
What Are the Symptoms of Acute Gastritis?
The symptoms depend on the degree of inflammation of the stomach lining. Sometimes, the disease manifests through mild digestive issues, while in other cases, there are some specific symptoms.
These symptoms include:
Upper abdominal burning and achy pain
Nausea and vomiting
Bloating and feeling of fullness
Digestive disorders after the meals
Decreased appetite
Discomfort during and after the eating
Feeling of satiety earlier than usually
It should be noted that the above-mentioned symptoms do not mean only gastritis. There may be other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as heartburn or peptic ulcer.
In what cases you should go to the doctor urgently? Vomiting of blood or coffee-ground-like vomit, black tarry feces, fainting and severe abdominal pain can be an alarming symptom and require immediate treatment.
How Is Acute Gastritis Diagnosed?
The process starts with evaluating your symptoms, medical history, and medication use. The doctor may ask how long you have been experiencing pain and if it is linked to meals. He or she may also inquire about possible episodes of vomiting and changes in stools.
Depending on your symptoms, you may need:
Blood tests: This test will help evaluate anaemia or other health conditions if required.
Tests for H. pylori: Tests that can identify the bacteria (breath, stool and others) may be prescribed to you if needed.
Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: In case you have severe symptoms or they are persistent and/or accompanied by warning signs, you may need an endoscopy. It allows a specialist to check your upper digestive tract and diagnose possible inflammation, erosion, ulcers, and bleeding.
It does not mean you need to undergo all these tests. Your doctor will prescribe tests to you depending on your condition and findings.
Treatment for Acute Gastritis
The treatment will aim at decreasing irritation of the stomach and healing its lining.
1. Medications to Reduce Stomach Acid
Based on the diagnosis, the physician will prescribe medication like proton pump inhibitors and H2-receptor blockers to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Antacids can ease some of your symptoms but do not always work for all of the underlying causes.
Your doctor will select the medication that fits your case and the period it is required.
2. Treatment for an H. pylori Infection
If there is an infection of the H. pylori bacteria, the treatment will usually include taking antibiotics and medications that reduce the production of acid. You need to take the whole course of antibiotics and do necessary tests to be sure about treatment success.
Taking antibiotics without prescription is not advisable.
3. Evaluating Your Medications
If painkillers or other medications are causing your problem, the doctor may change the dosage, suggest another medication or prescribe additional protection. You should not stop taking prescribed aspirin or other medications without your doctor's permission.
4. Avoiding Irritants
It might be helpful for you to avoid alcohol and foods or beverages that make you feel uncomfortable. Your doctor will suggest further actions based on the suspected cause of your problem.
Advice for Recovery
Although diet is not the solution to every case of gastritis, some changes in diet can be very helpful in making your recovery process more comfortable.
Try to do the following:
Have smaller portions of food if large portions cause your discomfort.
Eat those foods that cause less problems for you: rice, oatmeal, bananas, boiled vegetables, etc.
Consume sufficient amount of liquids, especially in cases when you were vomiting.
Eat less spicy, fried, fatty or sour food if this type of food causes your discomfort.
Stay away from alcohol in the period of recovery.
Limit the consumption of tea, coffee or any other beverages that contain caffeine if these products irritate you.
Use painkillers only when it is really necessary, consult your doctor about their regular use.
One diet does not fit all people. The best way is determined individually.
Can Complications Occur Due To Acute Gastritis?
Most cases resolve successfully if proper treatment is taken. But in some severe cases, where the inflammation or damage is significant, then erosion, ulcers, and even gastrointestinal bleeding may occur.
Recurring symptoms should not be disregarded if they are occurring along with unintentional weight loss, persistent vomiting, loss of appetite, or progressive pain in abdomen. Further examination to rule out other digestive disorders may be required.
Prompt medical examination can assist in establishing the reason behind it and prevent any complication.
When Is It Time to Visit a Gastroenterologist?
It is recommended to visit a gastroenterologist if your stomach pain does not go away, symptoms recur, vomiting occurs repeatedly, or your normal diet causes problems to you. You should also consult a physician if you use frequent non-steroidal inflammatory pain medications.
Shree Gastrocare is one such clinic where you can consult the doctor for your digestive system-related issues. There are clinics in both Thane and Borivali in Mumbai.
Conclusion
Acute gastritis can be a source of rapid stomach pain, nausea, swelling and indigestion. Despite the fact that most acute gastritis cases can be healed with proper treatment, it is crucial to identify the underlying causes. Irritation due to medication, alcohol and some infections can be a few of those.
Do not try treating yourself, be wary of persistent symptoms and consult your doctor at once. With proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, you will be able to take the right measures for improving your digestion.
If you have persistent problems with stomach, call Shree Gastrocare to discuss your symptoms with an expert in gastroenterology.