Acute gastritis: causes, symptoms and how to treat it

Definition

What is acute gastritis (inflammation of the acute stomach)?

Gastritis is inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. The type of gastritis whose symptoms appear suddenly, are temporary, and can heal within hours is called acute gastritis.

Gastric inflammation is generally harmless. However, repeated attacks of acute gastritis can turn chronic if not treated immediately. Chronic gastritis is inflammation of the stomach that has been going on for a long time.

Untreated acute gastritis can also lead to GERD (stomach acid reflux). This condition is characterized by an increase in stomach acid into the esophagus, causing symptoms heartburn.

How common is this disease?

According to a Cleveland Clinic report, acute gastritis is more common than chronic gastritis. It is estimated that 8 out of 1,000 people with gastritis have this condition. Meanwhile, chronic gastritis is estimated to affect 2 in 10,000 people.

Compared to babies and children, adults are much more susceptible to this condition due to the influence of a bad lifestyle. In order to prevent this, you need to know the risk factors you have and live a healthier life.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of acute gastritis?

Acute gastric inflammation can sometimes come in mild forms, but it can also cause severe and irritating abdominal pain.

Symptoms of acute gastritis that you may feel are:

repeated nausea and vomiting,
abdominal pain accompanied by burning in the chest,
feel full quickly even though you don't eat a lot, as well
stomach feels bloated.

Some of the symptoms associated with acute gastric inflammation also appear in other digestive disorders. So it is difficult to determine whether you have acute gastritis or not without an official diagnosis from a doctor.

Everyone also has a different body response. Therefore, not everyone will experience the same symptoms. Consult your doctor if you experience symptoms not listed above.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience the above symptoms or other symptoms that you suspect are acute gastric inflammation for more than 1 week, consult a doctor immediately.

However, you don't need to wait that long if the symptoms are really bothersome. For example, symptoms of gastric inflammation make you wake up from sleep and find it difficult to fall back to sleep.

If gastritis is not treated, complications such as GERD or gastric ulcers can occur. This condition can cause bleeding in the lining of the stomach which is marked by a black stool discoloration and vomiting of blood.

Causes and risk factors

What causes acute gastritis?

Acute gastritis occurs when the inside of the stomach is eroded or becomes weak due to inflammation that appears suddenly. Here are some of the causes and triggers of acute gastritis.

1. Bacterial infection

Of the many causes, infection Helicobacter pylori including the most common in developing countries. H. pylori naturally live in the digestive tract, but will not cause infection if the numbers are controlled.

Many people are infected H. pylori from an early age. Even so, they never felt any symptoms of acute gastritis. Common symptoms will not appear until the patient is an adult.

Experts do not yet know how bacterial infection is H. pylori can spread. However, doctors suspect that consuming unsterile food and drinks or using dirty food utensils could be the cause.

Some people who were infected were found to have bacteria H. pylori in his saliva. This suggests that direct contact with saliva or other bodily fluids can open up opportunities for transmission of infection H. pylori and cause acute gastritis.

2. Use of pain relievers

Repeated use of NSAIDs in the long term can cause irritation of the stomach lining. Medicines that are referred to as causes of acute gastritis include:

aspirin,
ibuprofen, and
naproxen.

If you need to take long-term pain relievers, always discuss ongoing pain relievers with your doctor. This aims to ensure that the drug is safe for long-term use.

3. Excessive alcohol consumption

Alcohol can trigger acid reflux. If consumed in excess, the production of stomach acid in large quantities can cause stomach irritation, resulting in inflammation.

4. Certain health problems

Inflammation or irritation of the stomach can occur due to certain medical conditions, such as:

food allergies,
food intolerance (such as gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance), as well
food poisoning.

Gastritis related to food usually occurs because the body is unable to digest the food content properly. In addition, food may contain substances that can cause inflammation or irritation of the stomach.

5. Bile reflux

Bile is a liquid that is used in the process of digesting food in the small intestine. Under certain conditions, this fluid can flow up into the stomach. If this happens repeatedly, the stomach can experience irritation and inflammation.

6. Other causes

Acute gastric inflammation can also be caused by other factors as follows.

Injury. An injury around the stomach can put pressure on the stomach so that the production of stomach acid increases. Gradually, this condition can make the stomach become inflamed.
Treatment. Radiation treatment around the stomach in people with cancer can also irritate the stomach.
Infection. Apart from bacteria, viruses cytomegalovirusThe fungus, phycomycosis, and parasitic anisakidosis can also cause acute gastritis.

What increases the risk of developing acute gastritis?

Anyone can get acute gastric inflammation. However, this condition affects more people with the following conditions.

Have genetic factors that make the immune system weak against bacterial infections.
Has digestive problems that make it difficult to digest food.
Are more than 60 years old so the lining of the stomach is getting thinner.
Take long-term pain relievers without a doctor's supervision.
Unhealthy lifestyle, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
Are overweight or have a job that puts pressure on the stomach.

Diagnosis and treatment

What are the usual tests to diagnose acute gastritis?

Before diagnosing acute gastric inflammation, your doctor will usually ask you about your detailed medical history. The doctor will also ask about the symptoms of indigestion that you are experiencing and refer to gastritis.

Then, your doctor will ask you to do one or more of the following tests.

Complete blood count to check your overall health.
A breath or saliva test to check for bacteria H. pylori.
Stool examination to check for blood in your stool.
Endoscopic procedure to view the lining of your stomach with a small camera.
Gastric biopsy to analyze samples of stomach tissue.

What are the treatment options for acute gastritis?

Most cases of acute gastric inflammation can be treated effectively by finding out the underlying cause.

When the diagnosis is made and the cause is known, the doctor will design the treatment taking into account factors such as the patient's age, overall health, the severity of symptoms and the causes of inflammation.

Many people with acute gastritis recover within days or weeks through adjusting their diet and eliminating irritating substances. In addition, over-the-counter and prescription stomach ulcers can also be used.

The drugs that are usually prescribed to treat acute gastritis are as follows.

1. Antacids

Antacids contain various active ingredients that can neutralize stomach acid. This medicine can be used as long as you have stomach ulcers at the dosage recommended by your doctor or following the directions on the medicine package.

2. Histamine H2-blockers (H2-blockers)

H2 drugs-blockers works by inhibiting the attachment of histamine substances to stomach cells. In this way, H2-blockers can decrease stomach acid production. Drugs classified as H2-blockers including famotidine and cimetidine.

3.Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs

PPI drugs such as omeprazole and esomeprazole can inhibit stomach acid production. However, this drug should only be taken every 24 hours and for no more than 14 days.

4. Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be needed if acute gastritis is caused by a bacterial infection H. pylori. Examples of antibiotics commonly used to treat this disease are amoxicillin, tetracyclines (not for children under 12 years), and clarithromycin.

Antibiotics can be used in combination with proton pump inhibitor type drugs, antacids, or H2-blockers. Treatment with antibiotics usually lasts 10 days to four weeks and should not be stopped without a doctor's approval.

In people whose gastritis is caused by other conditions, the treatment is a combination. This is done so that other diseases do not get worse and cause complications.

Home remedies

What are the home remedies for treating acute gastritis?

Acute gastric inflammatory pain will generally go away on its own without treatment. However, you can also relieve symptoms by doing the treatments below.

Avoid consumption of alcohol or caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soft drinks.
Avoiding acid reflux foods such as fried, fatty, or acidic foods.
Change the portion of the meal that was 3 large meals a day to 5-6 times with smaller portions.
Doing relaxing activities to control stress, such as yoga or meditation.
Avoid drugs that can irritate the stomach, such as NSAIDs, aspirin, or corticosteroids.
Eat low-fiber foods for a while so that your stomach doesn't work too hard.
Choose lean meats such as fish and chicken breast.
Wait 2-3 hours after eating before going to bed or lying down.

Prevention

How can you prevent acute gastritis?

The easiest way to prevent acute gastric inflammation is to prevent infection H. pylori.

Remember the pattern and mode of spread of infection H. pylori not fully understood, doctors generally suggest the following.

Wash your hands after going to the bathroom and before eating. Use soap, rub between your fingers, and rinse thoroughly under running water.
Eat hygienic food that is properly cooked. When eating raw vegetables or fruit, make sure they are thoroughly washed.
Drink clean water. When traveling, you should drink bottled water.

Acute gastritis can also be prevented by adopting a healthier lifestyle. These include avoiding excessive consumption of pain relievers, limiting alcohol and smoking, and adopting a healthy diet.

Consult your doctor further if you have health problems that may be related to gastritis. This step will help you determine the right treatment and lifestyle.