Chronic superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis are both types of chronic gastritis. Chronic superficial gastritis refers to the condition where there is no atrophy of the gastric glands in the gastric mucosa, while atrophic gastritis involves atrophy of the gastric glands in the gastric mucosa. Gastroscope examination can confirm the diagnosis; if gastric gland atrophy is observed under the gastroscope, a biopsy and histopathological examination can definitively diagnose atrophic gastritis. In contrast, superficial gastritis primarily shows symptoms of mucosal hyperemia, edema, or erosion under gastroscope examination. The symptoms of both conditions are similar, including upper abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. As for treatment, superficial gastritis primarily involves acid suppression, gastric protection, and promoting gastric motility, while the treatment for atrophic gastritis includes targeting Helicobacter pylori, along with acid suppression and gastric protection. The prognosis for superficial gastritis is relatively good, whereas treating atrophic gastritis is more challenging and it carries a higher risk of malignancy transformation.