The
symptoms of gastritis vary, depending on the type of gastritis. In general,
however, a person with gastritis has indigestion and discomfort in the upper
part of the abdomen.
Acute Stress gastritis
In
this type of gastritis, injury or burn usually overshadows the stomach
symptoms. However, the upper abdomen may feel mildly uncomfortable. Not long
after the injury, small bruises may develop in the stomach lining. In a few
hours, these bruises can change into ulcers. The ulcers and the gastritis may
disappear if the person recovers quickly from the injury. If the person remains
ill, however, the ulcers may enlarge and start to bleed, usually 2 to 5 days
after the injury. The bleeding may turn the stool tar black, turn the stomach
fluid red, or in severe cases, cause blood pressure to fall. The bleeding can
be massive and fatal.
Chronic Erosive Gastritis
The
symptoms of this type of gastritis include mild nausea and pain in the upper
abdomen. However, many people with long term aspirin use have no pain. Some
people may develop ulcerlike symptoms, including pain, when the stomach is
empty. If the gastritis leads to bleeding stomach ulcers, symptoms may include
passing out tar black stools (melena) or vomiting blood (hematemesis) or partially
digested blood that looks like coffee.
Eosinophilic Gastritis
The
symptoms of this type of gastritis include abdominal pain and vomiting caused
by a narrowing or blockage of the stomach outlet to the duodenum.
Ménétrier’s Disease
The
most common symptom of this type of gastritis is stomach pain. Loss of
appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss are less common. Bleeding from the
stomach is usual. Fluid retention and tissue swelling may be caused by a loss
of protein from the inflamed stomach lining.
Plasma Cell Gastritis
The
symptoms include abdominal pain and vomiting which can occur along with skin
rash and diarrhoea.
Gastritis from Radiation
Therapy
This
type of gastritis causes pain, nausea, and heartburn because of the inflammation
and sometimes because of the development of stomach ulcers. Ulcers can
perforate the stomach wall, spilling stomach content into the abdominal cavity,
causing peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) and agonizing pain. This
results in severe illness characterized by a rigid abdomen which usually
requires immediate surgery.
Treatment
Many
doctors treat a helicobacter pylori infection if it is causing symptoms. The infection
can be controlled of eliminated with bismuth, antibiotics such as amoxicillin
and clarithromycin, and the anti-ulcer drug, omeprazole. At times, eliminating
helicobacter pylori from the stomach can be difficult.
Most
people with acute stress gastritis recover fully when the underlying illness,
injury, or bleeding is under control. Doctors try to prevent acute stress
gastritis after a major illness, major injury, or severe burns.
Antacids, which
neutralizes stomach acid, and potent antiulcer drugs, which reduce or halt
stomach acid production, are commonly given after surgery.
Chronic
erosive gastritis may be treated with antacids. The person should avoid certain
drugs such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and
irritating foods. Coated aspirin tablets produce fewer ulcers than uncoated
aspirin. Misoprostol probably reduces the risk of ulcers caused by nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs.
For
a person with eosinophilic gastritis, corticosteroids or surgery may be needed
to relieve a blocked stomach outlet.
Atrophic
gastritis cannot be cured. Most people who have this disorder must take supplemental
injections of vitamins B12.
Ménétrier’s
disease may be cured by removing part or all of the stomach, but no drug
treatment is effective.
Plasma
cell gastritis may be treated with ulcer drugs that block the secretion of
stomach acid.
I
hope these tips prove useful to all those suffering from any of these types of
gastritis.