What department should I go to for gastritis?

Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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When gastritis is present, symptoms such as abdominal pain, acid reflux, belching, and bloating typically occur. Clinically, one can register under the Gastroenterology department, as the stomach is part of the digestive system. If the hospital is small and lacks a Gastroenterology department, registering under the Internal Medicine department could be considered. For gastritis diagnosis, registration should be made under Gastroenterology, and examinations such as gastroscopy and tests for Helicobacter pylori are required. Both gastroscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests require fasting for more accurate results. Moreover, treatment in Gastroenterology is more targeted.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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How to treat gastritis?

The treatment of gastritis, besides dietary adjustments, mainly involves drug therapy. In terms of diet, it is recommended that patients adopt a light, easily digestible diet, eat regularly, avoid overeating, and avoid consuming pickled or spicy foods and substances that harm the gastrointestinal mucosa, such as alcohol and coffee. For medication, one can choose drugs that protect the stomach or promote gastrointestinal motility. Of course, one can also choose traditional Chinese medicine formulations that protect the stomach. The treatment course is usually between two to four weeks, but regular dietary adjustments and rest are fundamental. Clinically, gastritis is quite common and generally refers to stomach disorders caused by various inflammations, with Helicobacter pylori infection being the most common cause. Therefore, for patients with gastritis, it is recommended to further screen for Helicobacter pylori. If Helicobacter pylori is found positive, in addition to protecting the stomach, treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori is necessary, generally involving four types of medications. The diagnosis of gastritis mainly relies on gastroscopy and pathology. Patients typically present with abdominal discomfort or weight loss, and gastroscopy shows inflammatory changes in the stomach. Therefore, it is generally recommended that patients undergo a gastroscopy. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Wu Peng
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Chronic gastritis often lacks specific clinical manifestations, and the correlation between the pathological histological examination results of the gastric mucosa and the clinical manifestations is also relatively poor. Some patients show changes in the mucosa indicative of gastritis during gastroscopy, and pathological histological examinations reveal inflammation, but they may have no or only mild clinical symptoms. The clinical manifestations of most chronic gastritis are merely upper gastrointestinal dyspeptic symptoms, such as a sense of fullness in the upper abdomen, irregular dull pain, belching, decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and worsening upper abdominal discomfort after eating. Patients with chronic gastritis often have no obvious specific physical signs; some may have mild upper abdominal tenderness or discomfort upon palpation. Patients with gastric mucosal lesions may have positive fecal occult blood tests; however, vomiting blood or having black stool is very rare, and long-term poor appetite or minor bleeding might be accompanied by anemia. In severe cases of atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia, significant anemia symptoms may be present.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
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Is gastritis contagious?

Chronic gastritis is one of the common upper gastrointestinal diseases, which is usually divided into two main categories under gastroscopy. One is chronic non-atrophic gastritis, also known as chronic superficial gastritis; the other is chronic atrophic gastritis. The principal cause of these types of gastritis is likely infection by Helicobacter pylori. In addition, stimulants like smoking and alcohol, and inappropriate dietary habits are also contributing factors. As for the transmission of gastritis, it is not appropriate to say that gastritis itself is contagious, as the main cause is Helicobacter pylori infection, which means the transmission involved is due to the bacteria. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that resides in areas like the anterior gastric antrum and the oral cavity, and can be transmitted through dietary means, such as through saliva and shared utensils.

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Symptoms of gastritis

Gastritis is an acute and chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by various reasons. The most common types of gastritis are acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. The common symptoms of acute gastritis include upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Severe cases may experience vomiting blood, fever, dehydration, and even shock. Symptoms of chronic gastritis are not specific; many cases are asymptomatic. Those with symptoms may experience upper abdominal pain or discomfort, loss of appetite, belching, acid reflux, and nausea. Symptoms are often related to food intake, and a significant number of patients may not show any symptoms at all. Patients with gastric erosion may experience minor or major bleeding, and chronic minor bleeding can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
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Can gastritis cause bad breath?

Gastritis can cause bad breath; the reasons may include poor digestion and reduced gastric motility in patients after developing gastritis, or possibly due to infection with Helicobacter pylori. Besides gastritis, other stomach diseases can also cause bad breath, such as peptic ulcers, malignant gastric tumors, and erosive gastritis, among others. Apart from stomach diseases, diseases related to the liver, gallbladder, and oral diseases can also cause bad breath. Therefore, when patients experience bad breath, they should visit the department of stomatology to determine if there are any oral diseases, complete imaging examinations of the liver and gallbladder, and, if necessary, also complete gastroscopic examinations.