Gastritis

Definition

Gastritis is the inflammation of gastric or stomach mucosa it is a common gastrointestinal problem. Gastritis
may be acute, lasting several hours to a few days, or chronic, resulting from repeated exposure to irritating
agents or recurring episodes of acute gastritis.

Gastritis is a general term for a group of conditions with one thing in common: Inflammation of the lining of the
stomach. The inflammation of gastritis is most often the result of infection with the same bacterium that causes
most stomach ulcers or the regular use of certain pain relievers. Drinking too much alcohol also can contribute
to gastritis. may occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or appear slowly over time (chronic gastritis). In some cases,
gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. For most people, however, gastritis isn't
serious and improves quickly with treatment.

There are two types of gastritis:

 Acute Gastritis – short-lived without any longterm damage 

 Chronic Gastritis – longterm damage to the gastric mucosa 

Common Causes

ACUTE GASTRITIS CHRONIC GASTRITIS

● Dietary indiscretion ● Benign or malignant ulcers of the stomach

● Overuse of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
● Excessive alcohol intake
● Bile Reflux
● Radiation Therapy
● Spicy Foods
● Bacterial infections such as H. pylori
More Severe
● Ingestion of strong acid or alkali
● Severe stress due to major surgery
● injury, burns or severe infections
● Bacterial infections such as Helobacter pylori
● Associated with autoimmune diseases such as
pernicious anemia
● Dietary factors such as caffeine
● The use of medications, especially NSAIDs
● Alcohol
● Reflux of intestinal contents into the stomach.
● Weakened immune system
● Certain illnesses, such as diabetes or kidney
failure

CAUSES

Gastritis can be caused by irritation due to excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use of
certain medications such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs. It may also be caused by any of the
following:

 Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): A bacteria that lives in the mucous lining of the stomach; without
treatment, the infection can lead to ulcers, and in some people, stomach cancer.
  Bile reflux: A backflow of bile into the stomach from the bile tract (that connects to
the liver and gallbladder)
 Infections caused by bacteria and viruses
 Alcohol abuse: chronic alcohol use can irritate and erode the stomach lining.
 Autoimmune disease: In some people, the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells in the
stomach lining.
 Medications: Steady use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or costicosteroids to manage
chronic pain can irritate the stomach lining.
 Physical stress: a sudden, severe illness or injury can bring on gastritis. Often, gastritis develops
even after a trauma that doesn’t involve the stomach. Severe burns and brain injuries are two
common causes.

If gastritis is left untreated, it can lead to a severe loss of blood and may increase the risk of
developing stomach cancer.

Is gastritis contagious?

Gastritis isn’t contagious, but the bacteria, H. pylori, can be contagious via the fecal-to-oral route. Good
hand washing before handling of foods and proper sanitation (sewer and water systems) are the first line of
defense against spread. Many people can develop gastritis after being infected with H. pylori bacteria.

What Are the Symptoms of Gastritis?

Symptoms of gastritis vary among individuals, and in many people there are no symptoms. However, the
most common symptoms include:

How Is Gastritis Diagnosed?

To diagnose gastritis, your doctor will review your personal and family medical history, perform a
thorough physical evaluation, and may recommend any of the following tests:

 Upper endoscopy. An endoscope, a thin tube containing a tiny camera, is inserted through

your mouth and down into your stomach to look at the stomach lining. The doctor will check
for inflammation and may perform a biopsy, a procedure in which a tiny sample of tissue is
removed and then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
 Blood tests. The doctor may perform various blood tests, such as checking your red blood cell
count to determine whether you have anemia, which means that you do not have enough red blood
cells. They can also screen for H. pylori infection and pernicious anemia with blood tests.
 Fecal occult blood test (stool test). This test checks for the presence of blood in your stool, a
possible sign of gastritis.
 Urea breath test- checks for an H. pylori infection by having the patient swallow a urea capsule
and then observing if they expel carbon dioxide atoms. The presence of carbon dioxide would
suggest the patient has gastritis.

What Is the Treatment for Gastritis?

Treatment for gastritis usually involves:
  Taking antacids and other drugs (such as proton pump inhibitors or H-2 blockers) to reduce stomach acid
 Avoiding hot and spicy foods
 For gastritis caused by H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe a regimen of several antibiotics plus an acid
blocking drug (used for heartburn)
 If the gastritis is caused by pernicious anemia, B12 vitamin shots will be given.
 Eliminating irritating foods from your diet such as lactose from dairy or gluten from wheat

Once the underlying problem disappears, the gastritis usually does, too.

You should talk to your doctor before stopping any medicine or starting any gastritis treatment on your own.

What Is the Prognosis for Gastritis?

Most cases of gastritis improve quickly with treatment. For most people, medications relieve gastritis. Your
healthcare provider will recommend the most appropriate treatment based on what’s causing gastritis. Antacids
reduce stomach acid, while antibiotics clear up bacterial infections. You can also make changes like reducing
your alcohol consumption and managing pain without NSAIDs.

Complications

Left untreated, gastritis may lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Rarely, some forms of chronic
gastritis may increase your risk of stomach cancer, especially if you have extensive thinning of the stomach
lining and changes in the lining's cells.

If left untreated, gastritis can lead to serious problems, such as:

 Anemia: H. pylori can cause gastritis or stomach ulcers (sores in your stomach) that bleed, thereby
lowering your red blood counts (called anemia).
 Pernicious anemia: Autoimmune gastritis can affect how your body absorbs vitamin B12. You’re at
risk of pernicious anemia when you don’t get enough B12 to make healthy red blood cells.
 Peritonitis: Gastritis can worsen stomach ulcers. Ulcers that break through the stomach wall can spill
stomach contents into the abdomen. This rupture can spread bacteria, causing a dangerous infection
called bacterial translocation or peritonitis. It also can lead to a widespread inflammation called sepsis.
Sepsis can be fatal.
 Stomach cancer: Gastritis caused by H. pylori and autoimmune disease can cause growths in the
stomach lining. These growths increase your risk of stomach cancer

Tell your doctor if your signs and symptoms aren't improving despite treatment for gastritis.

NCP

1. Obtain the patient’s weight and other body measurements. 

The admission weight serves as a baseline metric and helps guide interventions. 

2. Monitor how many times the patient vomits and note the amount of emesis each time. 

Frequent vomiting causes fluid loss and can lead to dehydration. 

3. Obtain information about the patient’s eating habits. 

Some food items can exacerbate the symptoms of gastritis. Acidic or citrus food items may worsen symptoms. 

Discourage the patient from consuming spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol. 

Acidic food items, such as tomatoes, or citrus items, may worsen the patient’s condition and interfere with the
treatment and the healing process. 

4. Assess for signs of dehydration. 

Vital signs, especially blood pressure, urine output, and skin turgor, provide information about the patient’s
hydration status. 

5.

6. Anticipate total parenteral nutrition (TPN). 

Especially during flare-ups of gastritis, the patient might not be able to tolerate oral intake. 

7. Consult a dietitian if indicated. 

The patient might need an addition of supplements to compensate for insufficient nutrient intake.