Gastritis

Define:
Gastritis commonly refers to inflammation of the lining of the stomach, but the term is often used to cover a variety of symptoms resulting from stomach lining inflammation and symptoms of burning or discomfort.

Reasons:
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Acidic beverages such as coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), carbonated beverages, and fruit juices with citric acid
• NSAIDS, such as aspirin and ibuprofen – switch to other pain relievers (like acetominophen)
• Eat a fiber-rich diet
• Avoid high fat foods (at least from animal studies, high fat foods incresase inflammation in the stomach lining)

In Lithuania this ill is very popular and many childrens and people are ill.

Symptoms
They will depend largely upon the character and degree of the inflammation. In the milder forms, the local symptoms predominate, and are a marked feature in all forms.

Complications
Left untreated, gastritis may lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Some forms of chronic gastritis may increase your risk of stomach cancer, especially if you have extensive thinning of the stomach lining and changes in the lining cells.
Tell your doctor if your signs and symptoms aren't improving despite treatment for gastritis.

Diagnosis:
1. Blood tests
2. Breath test
3. Stool tests
4. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
5. Upper gastrointestinal X-ray

Treatment
In the milder form, all that will be necessary will be to wash out the stomach by having the patient drink freely of warm salt-water and giving the organ perfect rest for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, to be followed by a diet that is bland and easily digested.