Gastritis

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. It can be either acute with severe attacks that last for a couple of days, or it can be chronic, with long-term nausea and appetite loss.  Gastritis can result in severe complications if untreated.

Causes of gastritis may include:

  • Surgery, burns or traumatic injury
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Infection caused by Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori), a bacteria found in the stomach lining which can weaken the protective coating and therefore result in the digestive juices reaching the stomach lining
  • Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as aspirin and ibuprofen
  • Stress and chronic vomiting (observed in bulimia cases)

Gastritis may not cause any symptoms in most cases. The most common symptoms include:

  • Burning feeling in the upper abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and indigestion
  • Pain in the upper abdomen
  • Vomiting


The treatment of gastritis depends on the cause of the condition. Doctors will assess the condition and suggest the most appropriate treatment including:

  • Acid control medications to neutralise acid levels in the stomach
  • Antibiotics prescription to kill the bacteria if the patient is infected by H. pylori
  • Painkillers such as those containing Acetaminophen

Related Specialties