Gastritis

Symptoms

Symptoms of gastritis include:

• tummy pain
• indigestion
• feeling full and bloated
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• not feeling as hungry as usual

• burping and farting
  

Causes

Causes of gastritis include:

• infection with a bacteria called helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
• taking anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen) and aspirin
• drinking too much alcohol
• being very stressed and unwell, such as after surgery

Gastritis can also be caused by a problem with your immune system where it attacks the lining of your stomach.

Treatment Options

Treatment for gastritis depends on what's causing it.

You might need:

• antibiotics
• medicines to control stomach acid and stop it from rising into your food pipe (oesophagus), such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors or alginates
• to talk to your doctor about stopping anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen) or aspirin and trying a different medicine, if possible
• to stop drinking alcohol, if gastritis is caused by alcohol

If it's not treated, gastritis may get worse and cause a stomach ulcer.

If gastritis is not getting better, or it's causing severe symptoms, a GP might refer you to a specialist stomach doctor (gastroenterologist). They might do a test to look inside your stomach, called a gastroscopy.

When To See A Doctor

See a GP if:

• you have tummy pain or indigestion for longer than 1 week

• your tummy pain is getting worse or keeps coming back