The stomach has three layers outer, middle, and inner. gastritis is a disease of the inner layer of the stomach. The innermost layer of the stomach is known as the mucosal layer. it protects from gastric acid and germs that irritate or produce infection in the stomach.
Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation, and erosion of the inner lining of the stomach( mucosal layer). It can be acute and chronic if not treated on time. Sometimes it can increase the risk of stomach cancer. While gastroenteritis affects the inner lining of the stomach and intestine.
Causes:- A most common cause of gastritis is an infection due to bacterial growth at the mucosal layer of the stomach. other causes are following
- H. pylori ( Helicobacter pylori is most often bacteria that cause gastritis)
- Excess or prolonged use of NSAIDs
- auto-immune diseases
- specific rare infection
- Crohn's disease
- Traumatic injury
- Eating spicy food regularly
- Excess use of alcohol
- Exposure of radiations
- Gastric surgeries increase the stomach's exposure to bile
- Pernicious anemia
- Old age- due to weak mucosal lining of the stomach
# Types of gastritis
(A) According to the onset of infection:- this type of classification gastritis is classified into two types which are a. acute gastritis. b. chronic gastritis.
(B) According to t5he cause of the infection:-
- H-pylori gastritis
- reactive gastropathy
- Autoimmune gastritiss
- Acute erosive gastropathy
# signs and symptoms-
- black terry stool
- bloating
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- haematemesis
Diagnostic measures for acute gastritis:-
- Assessment of signs and symptoms
- Blood investigations like CBC, CRP,
- Stool analysis for bile and occult blood.
- Upper GI endoscopy
- X-ray of upper GI system
Management of gastritis:-
management of gastritis depends on its symptoms but some common drugs are used which are the following.
Medical management:-
- Antibiotics:- Antibiotics are the main medications for treating acute gastritis. antibiotics reduce infection of H. pylori and prevent spreading it to other parts of the organ or body. the main antibiotics which are used in acute gastritis are amoxicillin, metronidazole, cefixime, clarithromycin, etc.
- Medication that inhibits acid production in the stomach:- proton pump inhibitors inhibit the production of stomach acid by blocking the cell which produces stomach acid. Which are omeprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole. NOTE- Prolonged use of PPI can lead to fractures, due to reduce in calcium.
- Histamine H2 blocker- Histamine H2 blockers are drugs, used to reduce the production of stomach acid in the body. Which are cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, etc.
Nursing Management of Acute Gastritis:-
