Gastritis has many variations; one of them is erosive, characterized by affecting the stomach, wearing down, and eroding the inner layer if it is not treated at the right time. The manifestation of this disease is acute, that is, fast, most of the time presenting digestive bleeding; the causes for this are varied and are generally related to factors such as alcohol, stress, and the use of some drugs. At FastlyHealwe will explain what erosive gastritis is: symptoms, treatment, and diet to follow; we invite you to continue reading this article.
Table of Contents
Erosive gastritis: what it is and causes
Erosive gastritis is a disorder of the digestive system directly affected by the internal lining of the stomach generating an inflammatory process followed by attrition mucosal or erosion of the bringing, making the remaining stomach unprotected from gastric juices to which it is exposed.
Gastritis has many varieties; one of them is erosive gastritis; medically, this disease frequently affects the lower part of the stomach that is in direct contact with gastric juice. These are the leading causes of erosive gastritis :
- Anti-inflammatories: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and calming pain-related discomfort directly affects the stomach mucosa; the indiscriminate use of ibuprofen or any medicine directly affects the gastric mucosa, generating erosive gastritis. According to the journal of Gastroenterology of Peru, they evaluated the frequency of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with the use of NSAIDs is very high, especially among those who consume them without a prescription. [1]
- Alcohol: the use and abuse of alcohol affect the gastric mucosa.
- Stress: another cause related to the appearance of erosive gastritis is stress and generalized anxiety.
Other less common causes related to erosive gastritis are:
- Bacterial infections such as Helicobacter pylori.
- Radiation exposure.
- Food poisoning.
- Ingestion of corrosive substances.
- Smoke.
- Viral infections in people with weakened immune systems due to other diseases such as HIV.
- Bile reflux
- Steroid use.
- Anxiety.
Symptoms of erosive gastritis
The symptoms of erosive gastritis are varied. However, it usually manifests itself acutely; the doctor is the qualified personnel to diagnose and treat this condition.
- The first and most common manifestation among all of them is bleeding; this happens in the presence of vomiting with blood, known medically as hematemesis, or through the evacuation of black stools known as melena; in both cases, they are manifestations of digestive bleeding that the doctor should study and treat on time.
- In addition, vomiting and nausea can be associated, a product of the inflammatory process suffered by the walls or the mucosa of the stomach; in this way, it is impossible to process the food that is appropriately ingested, and the body reacts by expelling them so that acid secretion in the stomach does not increase.
- Loss of appetite: this is considered a self-defense system to prevent food from increasing the secretion of gastric juices and, in turn, prevent symptoms from worsening.
- Diarrhea can also occur due to poor digestion of food, making it almost impossible to absorb all the nutrients.
Other symptoms that can be associated with erosive gastritis are:
- Abdominal distension.
- Weightloss.
- Flatulence and belching.
Erosive gastritis: treatment
First of all, the doctor must perform an endoscopy; in this way, the severity of the injury can be determined, and the most indicated treatment can be chosen. Usually, the remedy to follow will seek to inhibit the production of gastric juice using a proton pump meter or an H2 blocker for 6 or 8 weeks:
- In the case of the proton pump inhibitor, esomeprazole 20 mg, omeprazole 20 mg, or pantoprazole 40 mg once a day on an empty stomach every day are recommended.
- On the other hand, you can use H2 blockers, these have a more negligible effect than proton pump inhibitors, and most of them tend to generate side effects much more frequently. However, it is recommended to take famotidine 40 mg once a day at night or ranitidine 150 mg twice a day.
Erosive gastritis: diet
Treatment to be effective must be accompanied by a strict diet where you avoid consuming foods that exacerbate symptoms, preferably limiting the consumption of coffee and alcohol as well as cigarettes and the abuse of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without a prescription. . The recommended diet to follow is the following:
- It includes skimmed milk as well as fresh cheese and skimmed yogurt. Avoid dairy-like cream and whole milk.
- Vegetables and vegetables should be boiled or prepared in the puree to avoid poor tolerance; those recommended to consume are cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, pepper, and artichoke.
- Eat ripe fruits and avoid citrus fruits.
- You can also include rice and potatoes. You are avoiding chocolate chip cookies and croissants.
- Include white meat such as chicken and turkey in your diet. Eggs and sausages such as sweet ham, turkey ham, and serrano ham can also be added. Avoid fatty meats and cold cuts.
- As for drinks, it is recommended to drink enough water during the day. I am avoiding, of course, black beverages like tea and coffee or carbonated drinks.
- It is advisable to use olive oil when cooking or oil from seeds such as sunflower.
For the symptoms of erosive gastritis to improve, it is advisable to eat at least five times a day, have a snack between each meal without eating large meals, eat slowly, and chew all food thoroughly. Exclude from your food list all foods with high-fat content, preferably baked or boiled food, do not hesitate to go to the doctor as soon as the first symptoms of gastritis appear.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Erosive Gastritis: what it is, symptoms, treatment, and diet , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.