How to treat gastritis?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 28, 2025
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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 Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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What department should I go to for gastritis?

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 Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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What to do about gastritis pain?

Upper abdominal pain caused by gastritis is usually due to excessive secretion of gastric acid, which irritates the gastric mucosa. In such cases, acid-suppressing medications are preferred, commonly including H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, with proton pump inhibitors being the first choice. Treatment plans should also be determined based on underlying diseases and the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If Helicobacter pylori infection is present, formal quadruple therapy should be initiated to eradicate the bacteria. If there is no infection, symptomatic treatment with proton pump inhibitors as the first choice is sufficient. Some patients may experience upper abdominal pain due to episodic gastric spasms. In such cases, antispasmodic pain relievers such as scopolamine butylbromide or anisodamine can be used for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to eat a light, easily digestible diet and to avoid exposure to cold. (Note: Please use medication under the guidance of a clinical doctor and based on specific circumstances.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Chronic gastritis, under gastroscopy, can usually be divided into two main categories: chronic non-atrophic gastritis, also known as superficial gastritis, and chronic atrophic gastritis. The primary cause is related to Helicobacter pylori infection, although there are other related factors, such as exposure to cold, poor dietary habits, medication factors, and more. As for the symptoms of gastritis, there is individual variation. It can manifest as either excessive gastric acid or poor gastric motility. Excessive gastric acid can present as upper abdominal pain, heartburn, and acid reflux burn, among others. Poor gastric motility may lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating in the upper abdomen, and poor appetite.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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How to maintain gastric health usually?

Chronic gastritis is a common upper gastrointestinal disease, and it often relapses, so regular maintenance is particularly important. It is essential to develop good dietary and living habits, such as not getting chilled and avoiding excessive fatigue, quitting smoking and drinking, and eating a diet that is as light and digestible as possible. Eating regularly and in moderation, or having small, frequent meals, thoroughly chewing your food slowly rather than gobbling it down, minimizing stimulation from greasy, raw, or spicy foods, and maintaining a good mood all help.

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Written by Wu Peng
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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.