What is chronic gastritis?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on September 14, 2024
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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 medication?

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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Does chronic gastritis require hospitalization?

Whether hospitalization is needed for chronic gastritis depends on the specific condition of the patient. If symptoms are mild, without proliferative ulcers, and clinical manifestations are not severe, symptoms can be improved through dietary adjustments and oral medications that inhibit gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa; these cases generally do not require hospitalization. However, if there is a confirmed Helicobacter pylori infection accompanied by nausea, stomach pain, and other digestive discomforts, and gastroscopic examination reveals atypical hyperplasia or intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa, these situations necessitate active treatment in a hospital setting. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor according to specific circumstances.)

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Symptoms of Chronic Gastritis

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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The likelihood of chronic gastritis turning malignant

Generally speaking, the chances of chronic gastritis turning malignant are very low. However, if chronic gastritis involves atrophy, there is still a certain risk of malignancy. Therefore, patients with atrophic gastritis should undergo regular gastroscopy and pathological biopsy. At the same time, patients with chronic gastritis should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, consume mild foods, and avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, and spirits, as well as quit smoking. Foods that are overly acidic, overly spicy, overly salty, or overly hot should also be avoided as much as possible.

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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.