Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis

Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Chronic gastritis manifests differently across various types, and the severity of symptoms may not always correlate with the extent of the lesion. There are roughly four types: 1. The first can cause upper abdominal pain or discomfort. Most patients with gastritis experience a sense of discomfort in the upper abdomen, with irregular pain that is not significantly related to diet; some may experience pain that spreads throughout the upper abdomen, causing a burning sensation, hidden pain, or bloating. 2. Post-meal fullness can also lead to abdominal distension due to the retention of food and poor digestion in the stomach. 3. Other symptoms include acid reflux and nausea. 4. Severe atrophic gastritis can cause weight loss in patients, including symptoms like diarrhea.

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Can chronic gastritis be cured?

Chronic gastritis is generally difficult to cure completely. The current treatment principle is to eliminate the cause, alleviate symptoms, and prevent or reduce the recurrence of the disease. Treatment mainly focuses on protecting the gastric mucosa, suppressing gastric acid secretion, and eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections. Post-treatment care is also very important. It is advisable to eat a diet that is light, soft, and easy to digest, avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods, and steer clear of strong tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Engaging in appropriate outdoor exercises and managing emotions also play a positive role in the treatment of chronic gastritis.

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What is chronic gastritis?

Gastritis is divided into acute and chronic types. Chronic gastritis is primarily caused by various reasons that lead to chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa or atrophic changes. This condition is quite common in clinical practice. Generally, about 85% of patients undergoing gastroscopy exhibit such symptoms, and with increasing age, the incidence of atrophic diseases gradually increases. The symptoms mainly manifest as abdominal pain, predominantly in the upper abdomen, bloating, belching, and even symptoms of black stools, which, if present, indicate bleeding of the gastric mucosa.

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Does chronic gastritis require surgery?

Whether chronic gastritis requires surgery also depends on the condition of the disease. If the symptoms are not particularly obvious—such as nausea, vomiting, or acid reflux—and the gastroscopic examination shows atypical symptoms, treatment through medication or dietary adjustments can be considered instead of surgery. However, if there is significant atypical hyperplasia or intestinal metaplasia found during the gastroscopy, suggesting potential malignancy, these conditions may require surgical treatment under gastroscopy.

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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.

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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.