Gastritis

Diagnosis

After reviewing your symptoms, the doctor will ask you about your lifestyle. Specifically, the doctor will want to know:

• The amount of alcohol you drink

• Medications you are taking, in particular corticosteroids, aspirin or NSAIDs

• Whether you have tried over-the-counter antacids or other medicines to treat your symptoms and whether these helped

Your doctor will examine you, paying special attention to your abdomen. He or she may do a digital rectal examination to obtain a small smear of feces or rectal fluids to be checked for the presence of blood. Based on your medical history, symptoms and physical examination, your doctor will decide if you should try medical treatment first to see if symptoms improve or if you need further testing. You may need blood tests or a breath test to determine whether you have an H. pylori infection. In some cases, your doctor may want to inspect your stomach lining directly with a procedure called gastroscopy, in which a flexible, lighted instrument is passed into your stomach. During the procedure, your doctor can take a biopsy, a small tissue sample to be examined in the laboratory.

Gastroscopy also is done if:

• The results of your initial physical exam or rectal exam are not normal.

• You have seen blood in your vomit or stool.

• Your rectal smear tests positive for blood.

• You have unusual symptoms, such as weight loss or extreme fatigue.

Expected Duration

If you have mild, uncomplicated gastritis, your symptoms probably will improve after only a few days of treatment.