Erosive Gastritis

There are a lot of different gastro-intestinal disorders that can affect your body. Erosive gastritis is one such disorder that can cause a lot of pain and a slow degeneration of the gastro intestinal tract. Regular use of pain killers and steroids can slowly erode the lining of the stomach and intestines, resulting in the formation of small ulcers. You will eventually start to feel extremely uncomfortable every time you eat anything.

Gastritis is a condition in which the lining of the gastrointestinal organs becomes inflamed. However, in erosive gastritis the lining slowly wears away, revealing holes in the flesh of the organ.

A gastritis diet usually excludes all kinds of foods that could cause bloating, discomfort and flatulence. Such a diet also excludes most spices and almost all kinds of fats. Depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor will advise you and starting a diet to manage your gastritis. Erosive gastritis diet may also be set up using the advice of a dietician. Erosive gastritis symptoms are very simple to identify. These symptoms are very much like those of gastritis in general and only a detailed medical checkup would help a doctor diagnose the exact condition. Since erosive gastritis causes are also similar to the causes of general gastritis, it makes the erosive gastritis diagnosis even more difficult. Erosive gastritis treatment usually includes medication and a diet. In severe cases, surgery may have to be performed to remove the diseased tissue. This surgery is performed to prevent an infection from spreading.

Erosive Gastritis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Most of the erosive gastritis symptoms are very easy to identify, but they are also extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable. Some of the most common symptoms of this condition include:

• Bloating, flatulence, increased belching, indigestion, and a change in stools.
• You may experience pain once you consume food or even water.
• The patient may also experience a sudden loss of appetite and an eventual loss in weight. The weight loss is usually drastic, in which the patient may lose drastic amounts of weight in a very short period.
• If you experience acute erosive gastritis due to stress, you would experience nausea and vomiting.
• In a rare case, erosive gastritis may lead to bleeding in the stomach. The blood may appear in the stools, and some patients may even experience bloody vomits. Blood is rare in erosive gastritis, and those who experience this symptom may also experience other gastritis symptoms for at least a week before the bleeding begins. It is recommended that those who have persistent symptoms for more than a week should discuss their condition with a doctor as soon as possible.

Causes

There are a number of factors that cause erosive gastritis 

• One of the main erosive gastritis causes are a damaged stomach lining. This could occur due to underlying medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, food allergies and intolerances, colic, persistent acidity, gastrointestinal reflux, and infections due to bacteria like E. coli.
• While all of these can cause erosive gastritis, the condition is more commonly caused due to excessive consumption of certain drugs such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.
• Genetic conditions, viral diseases and bacterial diseases may also cause damage to the stomach lining. Long-term use of over the counter medications, without consultation with a doctor can also cause this condition.
• Stress is often also associated with erosive gastritis. Though there is not much evidence to support this theory, many doctors feel that managing stress and improving overall quality of life may help you prevent erosive gastritis. Trauma to the stomach, which causes injury to the lining of the gastrointestinal organs, may decrease the blood circulation to the organs, and ultimately lead to a lack of nutrition to the tissues.

Treatment

Erosive gastritis treatment is usually based on the diagnosis given by the doctor. Most treatments are a combination of diet and medication. There are some small dietary and lifestyle changes that you can practice in order to manage your condition. Erosive gastritis remedies can also be used to prevent the condition from getting worse.

• Start off by evaluating your meals. Eat small meals throughout the day, but make sure you do not eat junk foods as that will just aggravate the condition. Consume foods that are easy to digest. Avoid consuming fibers, fats and spices in your food. Avoid consuming whole grains, cereals, non-citrus fruits, green vegetables and dairy products. You may also have to avoid acidic foods such as tomatoes, oranges, and pineapple.
• Avoid consuming caffeine and alcohol. Stub the butt if you are a smoker. Even second-hand smoking can aggravate the condition, so it is important to avoid second-hand smoke as well.
• Processed foods that have added flavorings, preservatives, and added colors can cause problems. In addition to this, avoid consuming processed meats like sausages, salami, and pepperoni. Try and avoid drinking fizzy drinks as those could irritate your stomach's lining.
• Stress-relieving exercises such as deep breathing and meditation can help you keep your stress levels low. In this manner, you can prevent acute gastritis or stress induced flare ups.

There is no erosive gastritis cure, but with the right kind of lifestyle and food habits, you can attempt erosive gastritis prevention. However, before using any home remedies, it is important to consult the doctor.

Diagnosis 

The process of erosive gastritis diagnosis begins with the evaluation of symptoms. The doctor will discuss the symptoms of the patient in detail. A physical exam is conducted, in which the doctor attempts to locate exactly where the patient feels pain in the abdomen. Since the symptoms of erosive gastritis are similar to those of general gastritis, the doctor may have to take some additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. A blood sample may be taken to confirm the presence of viruses or bacteria. The doctor may also take a stool sample to check for blood. Some doctors also perform a small biopsy of the stomach to look for degeneration of the stomach lining. This is usually done through an endoscopy performed at the doctor's office. Further testing may include an ultrasound to check the stomach lining and an X-ray of the stomach. Once the condition is diagnosed, the doctor will discuss a treatment plan in detail. The doctor may put you on a diet and may also prescribe a proton pump inhibitor. A course of antibiotics may be prescribed in case of bacterial infections. Erosive gastritis prognosis is a debilitating condition and treatment for the same usually lasts long.