What should I do if chronic gastritis flares up?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 17, 2025
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If chronic gastritis flares up, patients need not be overly anxious. Standard treatment can quickly cure chronic gastritis. Following an acute flare-up of chronic gastritis, the first step involves using medications such as magnesium carbonate, aluminum sucrose sulfate, and aluminum-magnesium suspension to protect the gastric mucosa. Then, use H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid secretion and increase the pH level inside the stomach. Sometimes, traditional Chinese medicine is also quite effective in treating chronic gastritis, such as Qi Stagnation Stomach Pain Granules, Wen-Wei Shu, Yang Wei Shu Capsules, and Xiang Sha Yang Wei Pills. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can people with chronic gastritis eat bananas?

Patients with chronic gastritis can moderately consume bananas without any issue. Generally, it is advised that patients with chronic gastritis eat a diet that is easy to digest and clean, avoid overeating and binge eating, and avoid consuming spicy and irritating foods. In fact, chronic gastritis is quite common in clinical practice, with most patients presenting with abdominal discomfort. Of course, some patients might experience a decrease in appetite. The abdominal discomfort is primarily characterized by dull pain, bloating, or even burning pain in the upper abdomen. This may be accompanied by some nausea and vomiting, among other symptoms. For such patients, it is crucial to conduct a thorough liver function test and gastroscopy. Liver function tests are mainly to rule out abdominal discomfort caused by hepatobiliary diseases, while gastroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing chronic gastritis, hence its increasing use in clinical practice.

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

Chronic gastritis does not have specific symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms does not necessarily correspond to the severity of the disease. Common symptoms include pain in the upper middle abdomen, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, a feeling of fullness after eating, poor appetite, and indigestion. In severe cases of atrophic gastritis, patients may experience symptoms such as anemia and weight loss. Some patients may also experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. If a patient experiences the above symptoms, it is recommended to promptly conduct a gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. It is also advisable to conduct a carbon-14 breath test to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, as this infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis. After confirming the diagnosis, appropriate treatment should be administered.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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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.