You are here:

Gastritis

Definition

Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen.

Gastritis can last for only a short time (acute gastritis), or linger for months to years (chronic gastritis).

Figures

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The most common causes of gastritis are:

Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, when taken over a longer period of time
Drinking too much alcohol
Infection of the stomach with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori

Less common causes are:

Autoimmune disorders (such as pernicious anemia)
Backflow of bile into the stomach (bile reflux)
Cocaine abuse
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 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.

Symptoms

Many people with gastritis do not have any symptoms.

Symptoms you may notice are:

Loss of appetite
Nausea and 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:

Black stools
Vomiting blood or coffee-ground like material

Signs and tests

Tests that may be needed are:

Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia or low blood count
Examination of 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

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 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:

Antacids
H2 antagonists: famotidine (Pepsid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and nizatidine (Axid)
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) -- omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), iansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (AcipHex), and pantoprazole (Protonix)

Antacids may be used to treat chronic gastritis caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook depends on the cause, but is usually good.

Complications

Blood loss and increased risk of gastric cancer are possible complications.

Calling your health care provider

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 stools
Vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like material

Prevention

Avoid long-term use of irritants (such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or alcohol).

References

Kuipers, E. Acid peptic disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 141.

Lee EL, Feldman M. Gastritis and gastropathies. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 51.

Disclaimers

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.
A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Call 911 for all medical emergencies.
Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).