Can gastritis cause bad breath?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on March 08, 2025

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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.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

1min 11sec

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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 Yang Chun Guang

Gastroenterology

43sec

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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 Si Li Li

Gastroenterology

58sec

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Symptoms of gastritis

Gastritis is divided into two types: acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. The main cause of acute gastritis is bacterial or viral infection, with primary symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Chronic gastritis is mainly caused by the digestion of the stomach itself due to stomach acid and pepsin. Its main cause is closely related to infection by Helicobacter pylori, with primary symptoms being upper abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, and indigestion. For acute gastritis, a routine blood test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. For chronic gastritis, a gastroscopy and a carbon-14 breath test are required to determine if there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, which are the main examinations.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua

Gastroenterology

1min 19sec

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How to diagnose gastritis

Gastritis is a common disease in clinical practice, generally divided into chronic gastritis and acute gastritis. Acute gastritis is most commonly characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The symptoms of chronic gastritis vary and mainly include discomfort in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, and even early satiety. For the diagnosis of chronic and acute gastritis, the preferred examination is gastroscopy. Gastroscopy includes both conventional and painless procedures, both aimed at examining the condition of the gastric mucosa. However, for some elderly patients, particularly those with underlying conditions like coronary heart disease, the risk associated with gastroscopy is higher. Therefore, if conventional or painless gastroscopy is not suitable for the patient, abdominal CT and upper GI barium meal can be chosen instead. After completing the gastroscopy, if chronic gastritis or gastric ulcers are diagnosed, it is advisable to further conduct tests to screen for Helicobacter pylori.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

46sec

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What causes gastritis?

Chronic gastritis can be divided into two main categories: chronic non-atrophic gastritis, which was previously referred to as chronic superficial gastritis, and chronic atrophic gastritis. The primary cause of chronic gastritis is generally considered to be Helicobacter pylori infection, which has a very high infection rate in our country, exceeding 50%. Moreover, inappropriate diet can also cause chronic gastritis, such as stimulation from smoking and drinking, irregular eating habits, overeating, as well as excessive consumption of raw, greasy, spicy, and other irritating foods. Additionally, emotional factors are closely related to chronic gastritis.