Gastritis may be diagnosed based on your symptoms and medical history. A certain diagnosis would require testing, mainly an endoscopy to view the lining of the stomach and possibly take a tissue sample. Your doctor may order blood and stool tests to look for causes of the gastritis. (Blood in the stool may be a sign of stomach bleeding, for instance, as would be anemia.) Other tests are used to help determine the cause of gastritis. A breath test may be used to confirm the presence of H. pylori infection. In some situations, your doctor may perform an X-ray--possibly including a barium swallow to help make problems like ulcers visible.
Gastritis
Gastritis is a condition that causes inflammation or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Common gastritis symptoms include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. There is a wide range of causes for gastritis, including the bacterium salmonella, E. coli and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), stress, trauma, drinking too much alcohol and certain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Gastritis is typically diagnosed with blood and stool tests, or your doctor may perform an endoscopy. Learn more about the causes of gastritis, along with ways to prevent and treat it with expert advice from Sharecare.
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Different medications may be used depending on the cause of gastritis. Most, like H2 agonists, proton pump inhibitors, and antacids aim to reduce or neutralize the acidity in the stomach. When a blocked stomach outlet is caused by a type of gastritis called eosinophilic gastritis, corticosteroids may be prescribed. Antibiotics may be used if a bacterial infection is the cause. If parasites are the cause (which is rare), an antiparasitic medication will likely be prescribed. Sucralfate may be recommended to treat or prevent ulcers.
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RealAge answeredAtrophic gastritis is the breakdown of the stomach lining (mucosa) and glands that produce pepsin and stomach acids needed to digest food. Chronic gastritis (inflammation or swelling of the stomach lining) often progresses to atrophic gastritis.
Atrophic gastritis is often caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that is also known to cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. It can also be caused by an autoimmune problem, when the immune system malfunctions. Some people with atrophic gastritis go on to develop pernicious anemia (too few healthy red blood cells), because the intestines cannot absorb vitamin B12 from foods. People with atrophic gastritis are also at risk for developing stomach cancer. Pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting can be symptoms of atrophic gastritis.