Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen.
Gastritis can last for only a short time (
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The most common causes of gastritis are:
- Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, when taken over a longer period of time
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Infection of the stomach with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
Less common causes are:
-
Autoimmune disorders (such aspernicious anemia ) - Backflow of
bile into the stomach (bile reflux) - Cocaine abuse
- Eating or drinking caustic or corrosive substances (such as poisons)
- Extreme stress
- Viral infection, such as cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus, especially in people with a weak immune system
Trauma or a severe, sudden illness such as major surgery, kidney failure, or being placed on a breathing machine may cause gastritis.
Review Date: 01/31/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego,
California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
