Gastritis

Gastritis is acute or chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa. Acute gastritis is caused by consumption of alcohol and other irritating or corrosive substances, such as NSAIDs, and results in vomiting, which may contain blood (haematemesis).

  • Chronic gastritis is associated with smoking and chronic alcoholism and may be caused by bile entering the stomach from the duodenum. Many cases are attributed to the bacterium H. pylori.
  • Atrophic gastritis, in which the stomach lining atrophies, or wastes away, may succeed chronic gastritis, and may occur spontaneously as an autoimmune disease.

As with severe ulceration, blood loss accompanying gastritis can lead to anaemia and iron deficiency. Inflammation may also lead to ulceration, and gastritis is often found in association with hormonal disorders, which may result in elevated histamine levels causing mucosal inflammation.

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