Chronic atrophic gastritis is what kind of condition?

Written by Wu Peng
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 14, 2024
00:00
00:00

Chronic atrophic gastritis is a digestive system disease characterized by atrophy of the intrinsic gastric glands. It is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly people. Clinically, it mainly manifests as loss of appetite, nausea, belching, heartburn, and continuous or intermittent bloating and dull pain in the upper abdomen. A minority of patients may experience upper gastrointestinal bleeding, weight loss, anemia, and malnutrition, with incidence rates increasing significantly with age. Chronic atrophic gastritis can be divided into autoimmune gastritis and multifocal atrophic gastritis, also referred to as Type A gastritis and Type B gastritis, respectively. Gastric mucosal biopsy is a reliable method for its diagnosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
45sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of atrophic gastritis?

Atrophic gastritis, also known as body-type gastritis, is mainly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection leading to atrophy of the gastric mucosa. Under microscopy, twisted blood vessels and alternating red and white mucosa can be seen. The main symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. A reduction in parietal cells can lead to decreased secretion of intrinsic factor, thereby causing anemia with red blood cells. If atrophic gastritis is accompanied by ulcers, it can cause severe abdominal pain and bloody stools. It is important to adjust the diet, eat more soft and easily digestible foods, and consume fewer raw, cold, and spicy foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min 22sec home-news-image

How to prevent and treat atrophic gastritis

Chronic gastritis includes two types: chronic non-atrophic gastritis and chronic atrophic gastritis. Chronic atrophic gastritis is generally more severe than chronic non-atrophic gastritis and usually accompanies intestinal metaplasia, which some refer to as a precancerous lesion. If chronic atrophic gastritis is present, formal medical treatment is necessary. Initially, it is advisable to check for Helicobacter pylori infection. If an Helicobacter pylori infection is found, timely eradication therapy is recommended, typically using quadruple therapy, which consists of a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth agent. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment generally focuses on symptomatic relief, such as protecting the gastric mucosa and enhancing gastric motility. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine has shown satisfactory effects in treating chronic atrophic gastritis. It is also important to maintain good dietary and living habits, prefer light and easily digestible foods, and avoid raw, greasy, spicy, and irritating foods to help maintain a positive state of mind. Regular gastroscopy check-ups are necessary. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
57sec home-news-image

Is nausea normal for atrophic gastritis?

Nausea is one of the common symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, whether it is chronic superficial gastritis or atrophic gastritis. The occurrence of nausea usually indicates insufficient gastric motility. This condition is not considered normal, and targeted treatment is usually required depending on whether there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori. If there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, it is first necessary to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. This generally involves quadruple therapy to eliminate the bacteria, accompanied by prokinetic agents, such as mosapride citrate. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, symptomatic treatment may suffice. For example, protecting the gastric mucosa and enhancing gastric motility, while also paying attention to daily dietary and lifestyle habits. (Note: The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
44sec home-news-image

Can people with atrophic gastritis eat eggs?

Chronic atrophic gastritis is one of the common gastrointestinal diseases and is more severe than chronic superficial gastritis. If allowed to progress, it could lead to intestinal metaplasia, or even dysplasia, which are precancerous lesions. The treatment plan should first be determined based on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection, following standard treatment protocols. Additionally, it is important to pay attention to daily dietary and lifestyle habits, maintain a positive mindset, and abstain from smoking and alcohol. It’s also crucial to avoid overly raw, fatty, or spicy foods. Eggs, a common food rich in nutrients, can be consumed, but it is best to avoid fried methods to lessen the burden on the stomach.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min 7sec home-news-image

How to effectively treat atrophic gastritis?

Relatively speaking, atrophic gastritis is much more serious than superficial gastritis. Treatment for this condition primarily depends on whether there is Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is Helicobacter pylori infection, a quadruple therapy is generally adopted to eradicate the bacteria, which can reverse some of the atrophy. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment mainly involves symptomatic relief, such as protecting the gastric mucosa and increasing gastric motility, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine also have relatively good effects on atrophic gastritis, often employing a comprehensive treatment after differential diagnosis. As for diet, it is recommended to eat light, easily digestible foods, eat at regular times and in small, frequent meals, and avoid stimulants like tobacco and alcohol, as well as raw, greasy, or spicy foods. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)