Can chronic gastritis be contagious?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Is chronic gastritis contagious? Gastritis, especially chronic gastritis, lacks specific symptoms. Common types of chronic gastritis include chronic superficial gastritis, chronic erosive gastritis, and chronic atrophic gastritis. Diagnosis is mainly made through gastroscopy. Most patients may experience symptoms like upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, post-meal fullness, acid reflux, and belching, which can be quite apparent, especially in patients with atrophic gastritis, who may have more pronounced symptoms, as well as anemia, weight loss, and diarrhea. Additionally, upper abdominal pain associated with mucosal erosion can be more severe. If the condition is serious, it may also involve bleeding, vomiting blood, or black stools. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, gastritis is not contagious and can be cured with proper treatment.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of chronic gastritis?

The symptoms of chronic gastritis are mainly digestion-related, such as nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, abdominal bloating, and stomach pain. Belching is a more prominent symptom, with food easily refluxing back up to the throat. Many patients with chronic gastritis have atypical symptoms, and Helicobacter pylori infection is often discovered during examinations. Patients with this type of infection need treatment for Helicobacter pylori, which clinically often involves a triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics plus a proton pump inhibitor or a mucosal protective agent. It is also necessary to adjust the diet appropriately. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor, based on the specific situation.)

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of chronic gastritis?

Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, indigestion, and early satiety. These symptoms can be confirmed by a gastroscopy. If the gastroscopy shows gastric mucosal hyperemia, edema, or erosion, it can be diagnosed as chronic gastritis. It is also recommended to conduct a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, which has been confirmed as a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases. If the infection is positive, a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required. Additionally, the treatment for chronic gastritis should include acid suppression and stomach protection, promoting gastric motility and repairing the gastric mucosa, and the treatment usually lasts about four to six weeks.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can chronic gastritis be cured?

Chronic gastritis is generally difficult to cure completely. The current treatment principle is to eliminate the cause, alleviate symptoms, and prevent or reduce the recurrence of the disease. Treatment mainly focuses on protecting the gastric mucosa, suppressing gastric acid secretion, and eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections. Post-treatment care is also very important. It is advisable to eat a diet that is light, soft, and easy to digest, avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods, and steer clear of strong tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Engaging in appropriate outdoor exercises and managing emotions also play a positive role in the treatment of chronic gastritis.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of acute exacerbation of chronic gastritis

Common symptoms of acute exacerbation of chronic gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, etc. Among these, abdominal pain is the most common clinical presentation, manifested as upper abdominal distension, burning pain, or dull pain, generally associated with unhygienic dietary habits, and acute attacks are more common among some healthy individuals or young people. The diagnosis of chronic with acute exacerbation mainly relies on medical history and gastroscopy. Under gastroscopy, the gastric mucosa can be observed to show acute inflammatory changes, presenting as gastric congestion, edema, and even erosion formation. Regarding treatment, it mainly consists of dietary adjustments and the selection of medications. Dietary recommendations include adopting a liquid and light diet, and medications may include acid suppression and gastric mucosal protection drugs. Of course, if the patient has significant abdominal pain, a small dose of pain reliever can be used, generally over a short course of treatment. Indeed, chronic gastritis is a common disease in clinical practice, so it is essential to adjust your diet and develop good living and eating habits regularly.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
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How many days does chronic gastritis need for IV therapy?

The treatment of chronic gastritis generally depends on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is an infection, the usual approach is a quadruple therapy to eradicate the bacteria, which includes a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth compound, lasting for a 10 to 14-day treatment course. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, the treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic relief, such as suppressing stomach acid, protecting the gastric mucosa, and enhancing gastric motility, depending on the specific conditions of the patient. As for the duration of intravenous therapy for chronic gastritis, if the patient does not exhibit significant vomiting, intravenous therapy is generally not necessary, as oral medication is sufficient to achieve therapeutic goals. If the patient has severe vomiting and cannot eat, intravenous therapy might be needed. This would focus mainly on suppressing stomach acid and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, typically requiring two to three days, and prolonged intravenous therapy is not necessary. (Please follow the doctor's prescription for medication.)