Does chronic gastritis require medication?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Chronic gastritis often has no clinical symptoms, but this condition still requires medication treatment. The duration of medication must be long-term and regular, primarily focusing on drugs that suppress gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa. If the inflammation is relatively significant, antibiotics can be chosen; in cases of Helicobacter pylori infection, a triple therapy, which includes two antibiotics and a gastric mucosa protective agent, can be opted for. Additionally, it is crucial to pay attention to daily life routines, eat a light diet, avoid raw, greasy, and fried foods, and rest well to gradually recover from gastritis.

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Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
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The main manifestations of chronic gastritis

The main clinical symptoms of chronic gastritis include dull pain in the upper abdomen, a feeling of fullness after meals, acid reflux, or reduced appetite in patients. The severity of symptoms does not necessarily correspond to the extent of gastric mucosal lesions. Since chronic gastritis lacks specific symptoms, most individuals may experience no symptoms or various degrees of indigestion. Chronic atrophic gastritis primarily leads to symptoms like anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, among others. Additionally, patients with erosive gastritis may experience more pronounced upper abdominal pain, potentially accompanied by vomiting blood, black stools, and irregular abdominal pain. Severe cases could lead to intense colic pain.

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Diagnosis methods for chronic gastritis

Chronic gastritis symptoms are relatively common, often including abdominal pain and bloating. Patients with abdominal pain and bloating often present these symptoms. To rule out gastrointestinal tumors, ulcers, and other diseases, we need to go through some short-term medical treatments. If the symptoms do not improve, we need to consider the possibility of gastric ulcers or gastric tumors. Of course, the fundamental diagnostic method is still through gastroscopy, to definitively diagnose chronic gastritis. If necessary, a pathological examination should be conducted for confirmation.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
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Is chronic gastritis easy to treat?

Chronic gastritis is relatively common in clinical settings and generally responds well to standardized treatment, so there is no need for excessive worry. As the name implies, chronic gastritis is caused by various factors that lead to inflammatory changes in the stomach, which may manifest as congestion and edema of the gastric mucosa, erosion, and even the formation of multiple superficial ulcers. Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and belching, usually with a long history. The abdominal pain typically occurs in the upper abdomen and is related to food intake, which may improve after eating. Nausea and vomiting generally involve gastric contents, sometimes including blood. Patients undergo gastroscopy and biopsy to further confirm chronic gastritis, and tests for Helicobacter pylori are commonly performed. If the treatment involves Helicobacter pylori and results are positive, treatment to protect the stomach and eradicate Helicobacter pylori is recommended.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of chronic gastritis?

Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, indigestion, and early satiety. These symptoms can be confirmed by a gastroscopy. If the gastroscopy shows gastric mucosal hyperemia, edema, or erosion, it can be diagnosed as chronic gastritis. It is also recommended to conduct a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, which has been confirmed as a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases. If the infection is positive, a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required. Additionally, the treatment for chronic gastritis should include acid suppression and stomach protection, promoting gastric motility and repairing the gastric mucosa, and the treatment usually lasts about four to six weeks.

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How to treat chronic gastritis?

For the treatment of chronic gastritis, it is generally considered necessary to decide the treatment plan based on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. This can be determined through a C13 or C14 breath test. If the test is positive for H. pylori, it indicates a bacterial infection. The typical treatment in this case would involve a quadruple therapy that includes a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth agent. If there is no H. pylori infection, symptomatic treatment is generally sufficient, such as inhibiting stomach acid, protecting the stomach lining, increasing gastric motility, etc. Additionally, it is necessary to develop good dietary and living habits. Furthermore, emotional factors are closely related to the activity of chronic gastritis, so maintaining a positive mental attitude is beneficial for digestive system diseases.