All You Need to Know About the Causes and Symptoms of Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the stomach's inner lining. It is a condition that may occur gradually or suddenly. The former is known as chronic gastritis, and the latter is called acute gastritis. The earliest descriptions of gastritis can be traced back to 1782 when German physician George Ernst Stahl coined the term and wrote about the condition's inflammatory conditions. Symptoms of gastritis usually do not exist or are dormant, but the most obvious and pertinent symptom is a pain in the upper abdomen. Studies reveal that gastritis affects half of the human population. There were 90 million new Diagnoses of gastritis in 2013, and the typical pattern we can see is a proliferation of the condition with increasing age. Gastritis, along with another intestinal lining condition known as duodenitis, caused 50000 deaths in 2015 worldwide. Let's try and understand the causes of gastritis before delving into its symptoms and types.

Causes of gastritis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are the most common cause of gastritis. It was first discovered in 1981 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren. H. pylori colonizes the stomach, and the consequent infection plays a critical part in the pathogenesis of various gastro-duodenal disorders. Inhibition of the gastric mucosa by Helicobacter pylori results in the development of chronic gastritis. In some cases, chronic gastritis progresses to complications such as stomach cancers and ulcers in patients. Research reveals that despite the pervasiveness of the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori infection remains asymptomatic for 80 percent of the infected population.

Certain serious illnesses may also lead to gastritis. The condition may manifest after significant surgeries, traumatic injury, burns, or other severe infections. Gastritis is also common among people who have had weight loss surgery or digestive tract reconstruction. 

Some of the uncommon causes of gastritis include NSAIDs - a kind of medication, alcoholism, drug abuse, Crohn's disease, diabetes, kidney failure, a weak immune system, and bile reflux.

Symptoms of gastritis

Symptoms and gastritis do not go hand in hand as many people experience no symptoms. But, it is essential to highlight that pain in the upper and central abdomen are the most typical signs of the condition. Although abdomen pain is very generic in humans, the one associated with gastritis may be dull, sharp, burning, or aching. Some other symptoms of gastritis include nausea, bloating, early satiety, and appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, belching, and vomiting. It is noteworthy to highlight that the color of the vomit may be clear, green, yellow, or blood-streaked, depending upon the severity of the inflammation.

Types of gastritis

• Acute erosive gastritis – This type of gastritis cinches the production of the vital enzymes responsible for the formation of eicosanoids in the stomach by damaging mucosal defenses. The result is the possibility of peptic ulcer formation manifolds. Moreover, frequent consumption of NSAIDs (medication) decreases a vital substance that safeguards the stomach lining. 
• Chronic gastritis – It occurs when the stomach's inner lining is inflamed. Chronic gastritis includes a range of issues related to gastric tissues. As chronic gastritis happens over time, it gradually erodes the stomach lining and can cause metaplasia or dysplasias, which are precancerous cells that may lead to cancer if untreated. It is vital to constantly monitor the symptoms of gastritis to facilitate effective long-term treatment. There are three subsets of chronic gastritis – Type A, Type B, and Type C. 

1. Type A Chronic gastritis is caused by the destruction of stomach cells by the immune system. This subset of gastritis heightens several potential risks such as vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and cancer.
2. Type B Chronic gastritis is the most common of all. It is factored by Helicobacter pylori which induces stomach ulcers, ulcers of the intestine, and cancers.
3. Type C Chronic gastritis is a result of chemical irritants like NSAIDs, alcohol, or bile.

• Other types of gastritis include hypertrophic gastritis associated with protein deficiencies, and eosinophilic gastritis can result in allergic conditions like asthma or eczema.

Treatment of gastritis includes the use of antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 blockers.  Prevention of the condition entails avoiding spicy foods, and bothering foods, and discarding habits like drinking. In a nutshell, you ought to look out for common symptoms of gastritis to prevent the condition from spiraling out of control.