What medicine is taken for gastritis and reflux esophagitis?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease are relatively common in clinical settings. Generally, medications that reduce acid production, protect the mucous membrane, and improve gastrointestinal motility can be chosen for treatment. Of course, dietary advice includes consuming clean, easily digestible foods, cultivating good living and eating habits, and avoiding overeating and binge drinking. Gastritis is more commonly seen clinically, with most patients exhibiting symptoms of abdominal pain and bloating. Esophagitis primarily presents with nausea, belching, and burning pain, leading most patients to seek treatment from a gastroenterologist. The fastest diagnosis primarily relies on gastroscopy, which can reveal congestion and edema of the esophageal and gastric mucosa, and even the formation of erosion and ulcers, ruling out diagnoses like esophageal or gastric cancer. Therefore, the treatment of gastritis and esophagitis mainly relies on medications, which are selected after a complete gastroscopy. The typical course of treatment is about four weeks. If symptoms can be controlled, the dosage can be gradually reduced to maintain the minimal effective amount. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease?

The following are some symptoms: The most common and typical symptom is heartburn. It mainly manifests as a burning discomfort or pain behind the sternum and below the xiphoid process. This usually occurs about an hour after eating and may extend upward from the lower end of the sternum to the neck and between the shoulder blades, often accompanied by nausea. Another common symptom is acid reflux, which generally occurs more often on an empty stomach. Another symptom is chest pain, mainly caused by irritation of the esophageal mucosa leading to spasms. There is also difficulty swallowing, which is quite common; initially, it is often caused by a stress-induced spasm. In later stages, it is mostly due to the proliferation of fibrous tissue forming scars, leading to esophageal narrowing. Some less common symptoms include stomach bloating, pharyngitis, cough, asthma, and others.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
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Can reflux esophagitis be cured?

Reflux esophagitis can be cured, however, the recurrence rate of reflux esophagitis is more than 80%, and generally requires maintenance treatment. The treatment principles are acid suppression, enhancing the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, and protection of the mucosa. Next, let's specifically introduce non-drug treatments. Dietary therapy is very important, mainly involving reasonable dietary intake and good eating habits, which play a significant role in prevention. Another is positional therapy, mainly avoiding lying down immediately after meals, as well as quitting smoking and alcohol, reducing negative pressure, and taking some related medications or undergoing surgical procedures, etc. Generally, a combination of treatments is used to improve efficacy, and the treatment course should not be less than three months.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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How to treat reflux esophagitis?

Reflux esophagitis can be diagnosed when an endoscopy reveals damage to the gastric mucosa. Its main symptoms include upper abdominal pain, chest pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment primarily involves acid suppression, promoting gastric motility, and protecting the mucosa. Since reflux esophagitis is greatly related to poor gastric motility, in addition to pharmacological treatments, increasing physical activity is also necessary because exercise can enhance gastrointestinal motility and strengthen gastric dynamics, playing a crucial role in the treatment and symptom relief of reflux esophagitis. Furthermore, the diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding spicy, stimulating, fried, grilled, cold, and sweet foods.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of reflux esophagitis?

Common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include upper abdominal distension, chest pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Gastroscopy may reveal lesions in the esophageal mucosa, facilitating a GERD diagnosis. Lesion sizes and severity are graded from A to D (ABCD), with Grade A being the mildest and Grade D the most severe. The main treatments include promoting gastric motility, suppressing acid production, and protecting the gastric mucosa, typically over an eight-week course. GERD is closely related to poor gastric motility, so patients are advised to increase physical activity, which can help enhance gastrointestinal motility and strengthen gastric motility, alleviating GERD symptoms.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Is reflux esophagitis grade LA-A severe?

Reflux esophagitis grade LA-A is not very severe. It is the lowest grade in the classification of reflux esophagitis, indicating that one or more areas of the esophageal mucosa are damaged, but the length of the lesions is less than five millimeters. If reflux esophagitis grade LA-A is present, the use of proton pump inhibitors, which suppress gastric acid secretion, can be considered for treatment to reduce the damage and irritation to the esophageal mucosa from excessive gastric acid secretion. Additionally, medications such as aluminum-magnesium carbonate and sucralfate can be used to protect the esophageal and gastric mucosa. The specific choice of medication and the dosage should be used under the guidance of a clinical physician.