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Gastritis
What are the symptoms of acute gastritis?
Acute gastritis is mostly caused by unhygienic dietary habits and is more common in summer. The symptoms mainly involve gastrointestinal irritation, such as nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite. Active pharmacological treatment should be given for acute gastroenteritis. Commonly used medications include those that suppress gastric acid secretion, protect the gastric mucosa, and antibiotics. During treatment, it is advisable to eat small, frequent meals consisting primarily of soft, easily digestible foods, and to avoid cold, spicy, or irritating foods. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
What is acute gastritis?
Acute gastritis is caused by various reasons leading to acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa, primarily due to stress, medications, infections in the stomach, and bile reflux. The main symptoms include upper abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, often with enteritis causing diarrhea, bloody stool, and signs of dehydration. The treatment for acute gastritis is mainly symptomatic, with timely fluid replenishment through intravenous hydration. Additionally, bed rest is recommended, along with cessation of all gastric irritants in food or medications, and fasting if necessary. For abdominal pain, local heat application or the use of antispasmodic analgesics can be considered; generally, anti-infection treatment is not required.
Is acute gastritis serious?
Acute gastritis is a relatively common disease, and if not treated actively, the symptoms can be quite severe. This is because acute gastritis can lead to damage to the gastric mucosa, causing erosion of the mucosa, or symptoms such as bleeding and perforation of the gastric mucosa, leading to severe symptoms. For acute gastritis, active treatment is necessary, primarily involving the use of medications to protect the gastric mucosa and inhibit gastric acid secretion, as well as appropriately selecting antibiotics. If there is an associated Helicobacter pylori infection, it is necessary to completely eradicate the Helicobacter pylori. Additionally, dietary adjustments should be made, such as eating more vegetables and fruits and avoiding spicy foods.
What to do about gastritis pain?
Upper abdominal pain caused by gastritis is usually due to excessive secretion of gastric acid, which irritates the gastric mucosa. In such cases, acid-suppressing medications are preferred, commonly including H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, with proton pump inhibitors being the first choice. Treatment plans should also be determined based on underlying diseases and the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If Helicobacter pylori infection is present, formal quadruple therapy should be initiated to eradicate the bacteria. If there is no infection, symptomatic treatment with proton pump inhibitors as the first choice is sufficient. Some patients may experience upper abdominal pain due to episodic gastric spasms. In such cases, antispasmodic pain relievers such as scopolamine butylbromide or anisodamine can be used for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to eat a light, easily digestible diet and to avoid exposure to cold. (Note: Please use medication under the guidance of a clinical doctor and based on specific circumstances.)
The causes of acute gastritis
Acute gastritis is one of the common upper gastrointestinal diseases. The condition tends to be severe and more serious than typical gastritis, usually presenting with symptoms such as sudden onset, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, and vomiting. The primary causes may include exposure to cold or food irritants, such as raw, spicy foods, or alcohol. Additionally, other factors can also lead to acute gastritis or acute gastric mucosal lesions, such as the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, or corticosteroid medications such as dexamethasone or prednisone. (Specific medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
Symptoms of gastritis
Gastritis is an acute and chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by various reasons. The most common types of gastritis are acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. The common symptoms of acute gastritis include upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Severe cases may experience vomiting blood, fever, dehydration, and even shock. Symptoms of chronic gastritis are not specific; many cases are asymptomatic. Those with symptoms may experience upper abdominal pain or discomfort, loss of appetite, belching, acid reflux, and nausea. Symptoms are often related to food intake, and a significant number of patients may not show any symptoms at all. Patients with gastric erosion may experience minor or major bleeding, and chronic minor bleeding can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
How to treat gastritis
Gastritis is mostly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, or factors such as improper diet, medications, and emotional stress, which lead to gastric mucosal damage. In terms of treatment, it is best to first conduct a gastroscopy and test for Helicobacter pylori to determine the type of gastritis and whether there is an infection. Treatment should then be guided by the results. If it is not possible to conduct these tests, one can use proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid, in combination with gastric mucosal protectants. If reflux gastritis is present, prokinetic drugs should also be used to inhibit reflux. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
How to maintain gastric health usually?
Chronic gastritis is a common upper gastrointestinal disease, and it often relapses, so regular maintenance is particularly important. It is essential to develop good dietary and living habits, such as not getting chilled and avoiding excessive fatigue, quitting smoking and drinking, and eating a diet that is as light and digestible as possible. Eating regularly and in moderation, or having small, frequent meals, thoroughly chewing your food slowly rather than gobbling it down, minimizing stimulation from greasy, raw, or spicy foods, and maintaining a good mood all help.