Understanding Gastritis

Image by Twilight Jones via Flickr

by Benny Arce

Definition

Gastritis is broadly defined as an inflammation of the mucous membrane or lining of the stomach. This disease has a wide range of etiologies or causes. Regardless of the cause, however, gastritis presents generally the same symptoms.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The most common manifestations of gastritis are:

• Nausea and Vomiting
• Stomach Ache
• Bloating and Belching
• Loss of Appetite
• Indigestion
• Black or Bloody Stools
• Vomiting of Purulent Gastric Contents
• Gastrointestinal and Rectal Bleeding
• Fevers and Chills

When two or more of these symptoms present themselves, the patient is advised to undergo a typical physical examination consisting of palpation (manual examination of the body), auscultation (listening to body sounds), and percussion (producing sounds). If this exam leads to a suspicion of gastritis, an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is performed to actually look into the digestive tract. A fecal occult blood test may also be conducted.

Types

The gastric mucosa inflammation may cover the entire stomach (pangastritis), or only at the area near the link to the esophagus (antral gastritis). Acute gastritis can also be either erosive or non-erosive. The former can be superficial, deep, or hemorrhagic, while the later is usually caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.

Causes

There are various causes of gastritis. These could be in the form of drugs or foods ingested, microorganisms, or the physical constitution of the patient himself.

Acute erosive gastritis can come from NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), cocaine, or alcohol. Overuse or abuse of these can strain the stomach. Emotional and physical stress are also contributing factors. When bile from the duodenum flows into the stomach, this digestive fluid can damage its mucous membrane. These substances also inhibit the production of prostaglandins –chemicals that protect the mucosa from the more deleterious effects of gastric acids.

Acute gastritis can also be caused by infections from certain bacteria, the most common of which is the Helicobacter pylori. The incidence of H. pylori varies with age, the elderly being more prone to hosting it; socio-economic class, the poor living in unhygienic surroundings having a greater susceptibility; and country, those living in Western Europe, North America, and Australasia appear to have low infection rates. Often, gastritis caused by H. pylori starts at the opening of the stomach but this can spread to the entire gastric mucosa over time.

Cytomegalovirus, a herpes viral genus of the Herpesvirus group, can also cause gastritis. Patients who have problems with their immune systems such as those with AIDS, are afflicted with cancer, or who have had organ transplants  are often susceptible to this virus.

Eating infected sushi, sashimi, or any form of raw fish can lead to anisakidosis –an infection caused by the larvae of a nematode that embeds itself in the stomach lining. This causes swelling, ulcers, and erosions of the gastric fold.

Patients who are critically ill are also vulnerable to ulcero-hemorrhagic gastritis. In this form of gastritis, the mucous membrane of the fundus or upper portion of the stomach as well as its body exhibits petechiae –small reddish or purplish spots that contain blood.

Prognosis

The likelihood of recovery from gastritis is usually high. As soon as the cause of the disorder is identified and proper treatment is instituted, the patient can improve speedily.

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Tags: Abdominal pain, Digestive Disorders, Gastrointestinal tract, Health, Inflammation, Stomach

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 10:04 pm and is filed under Disease info, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.