Definition

Acute gastritis is a sudden inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

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Alternative Names

Acute gastritis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Causes include medications, alcohol, eating or drinking corrosive substances, extreme physiological stress, and infections. Acute gastritis is often associated with a severe, acute illness, or trauma. The risk factors include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (NSAIDs), recent heavy alcohol use, and physiological stress such major surgery, head trauma, renal failure, liver failure, or respiratory failure.

Symptoms

Signs and tests

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the gastritis. Antacids or other medications to decrease or neutralize gastric acid in the stomach will usually eliminate the symptoms and promote healing. Medications that cause gastritis should be discontinued. A gastric ulcer may be present, requiring treatment.

Gastritis due to stress is best treated by prevention. Medications to decrease gastric acid production such as proton pump inhibitors should be given to stressed hospital patients.

Expectations (prognosis)

Most gastritis improves rapidly with treatment.

Complications

A potential complication is a severe loss of blood.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of gastritis persist longer than 2 or 3 days. Call your health care provider if you vomit blood or have bloody stools.

Prevention

Control of risk factors may play a preventative role. For example, not using or minimizing use of NSAIDs and alcohol.

Review Date:8/2/2005
Reviewed By: Courtney W. Houchen, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.