The difference between gastroenteritis and gastritis.

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 28, 2025
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The difference between gastroenteritis and gastritis, as referred here, likely concerns acute gastroenteritis and acute gastritis. The main symptoms of acute gastroenteritis include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc. Acute gastritis mainly presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The primary difference between the two is whether there are symptoms related to the intestines. The main causes of both are similar, primarily due to unsanitary dietary habits, leading to bacterial or viral infections in the stomach or intestines, causing a series of symptoms. Therefore, their treatments are also similar, focusing mainly on anti-inflammatory measures, fluid replenishment, and symptomatic treatment. Generally, recovery can be expected within two to three days of treatment.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min 11sec home-news-image

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 Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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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.

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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
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
1min 11sec home-news-image

How to relieve gastritis pain

Gastric pain typically refers to pain in the upper abdomen, and the first step is to confirm whether the pain is indeed caused by gastritis. If an endoscopy confirms gastritis and liver or gallbladder issues are ruled out, there are primarily two causes of gastritis pain: One is the excessive secretion of stomach acid, which irritates the gastric mucosa leading to upper abdominal pain, and can be accompanied by acid reflux, heartburn, and a burning sensation. In such cases, proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, are generally the first choice and can help relieve the pain. Another situation, such as chronic gastritis, combined with exposure to cold or improper diet, can lead to gastric spasms. This often manifests as episodic upper abdominal pain or even colicky pain. Antispasmodic analgesics, such as scopolamine butylbromide, can be appropriately used in these cases, while also ensuring to stay warm and consume a light, easily digestible diet. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)