Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach, caused by infections from bacteria or viruses, medication, autoimmune factors, or hypersensitivity reactions. However, typical symptoms of gastritis are not always present, and most patients with gastritis do not experience any symptoms.

Gastritis? Gastritis refers to the condition where the stomach lining is eroded due to digestion by stomach acid. The stomach lining is composed of cells that not only act as a barrier against invading pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract but also protect the gastrointestinal tract from stomach acid and other harmful substances.

Symptoms of Gastritis Acute Gastritis : Patients with acute gastritis may complain of mild pain in the upper abdomen, indigestion, vomiting, heartburn, or other symptoms.
Chronic Gastritis : The characteristic symptoms of chronic gastritis are not well-defined. However, many patients with chronic gastritis may complain of dyspepsia (indigestion), so it is often used clinically in conjunction with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is defined as "a gnawing or uncomfortable feeling in the upper abdomen, bloating, early satiety, burping, heartburn, regurgitation, or similar discomfort."

Causes of Gastritis Gastritis can be divided into acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. Acute gastritis can be caused by the intake of medications such as aspirin or analgesics, heavy alcohol consumption, significant stress after major surgery or accidents, etc. Endoscopy may reveal various sizes of eroded stomach mucosa or signs of bleeding.
Most cases of chronic gastritis are caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, accounting for the majority of cases. Chronic active gastritis due to H. pylori does not present specific symptoms or endoscopic findings. However, histopathological examination of the mucosal tissue shows the accumulation of various inflammatory cells. In addition to H. pylori -induced chronic gastritis, there is chronic atrophic gastritis, which is common in the Korean population. It is caused by various environmental factors such as diet, age, as well as H. pylori infection.

Diagnosis of Gastritis

01Gastroscopy (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, EGD)

02Helicobacter Pylori Testing

03Upper Gastrointestinal Contrast Study

04Other tests

Treatment Methods Acute gastritis typically recovers when treatment includes inhibiting stomach acid production and addressing underlying causes such as medication or stress. In contrast, chronic atrophic gastritis, often arising from autoimmune processes, can rarely progress to gastric cancer through complex mechanisms, emphasizing the need for continuous management.

The most common symptoms that patients in Korea complain of are upper abdominal or gastrointestinal tract-related symptoms. You can diagnose the cause of various gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, nausea, belching, upper abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and weight loss, and receive correct information and treatment for common gastrointestinal diseases.

Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, while gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer are diseases that ulcerate not only the mucosa of the stomach or duodenum, but also the muscle layer.

Gastric Ulcer Symptoms appear around the epigastrium 30 to 60 minutes after eating, with a decrease in appetite.

Duodenal Ulcer Symptoms appear on the right side of the abdomen around 2 to 3 hours after eating, with a good appetite.

Polyp A polyp is a lump that protrudes above the surface of the mucosa. Polyps that occur in the stomach are called gastric polyps, and can be classified as inflammatory polyps, hyperplastic polyps, and adenomatous polyps. Polyps are usually benign diseases and do not progress to cancer, except in special cases.

Stomach Cancer Stomach cancer is a malignant tumor that generally occurs in the gastric mucosa, and is classified as early stomach cancer when the lesion is relatively shallow and limited to the mucosal layer and submucosal layer. Early stomach cancer has a 5-year survival rate of over 90% and a 10-year survival rate of over 80% when treated properly. Therefore, early-detected stomach cancer can be cured.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which the contents of the stomach or duodenum flow into the esophagus, causing clinical and histopathological changes. Reflux esophagitis is damage to the esophageal mucosa, such as erosions and ulcers, accompanied by inflammation. Generally, GERD based on symptoms is responsive to treatment. However, because the disease is prone to relapse and it is difficult to achieve proper treatment, it is generally recognized as a disease that repeats relapse and cure throughout life.

Esophageal Cancer Esophageal cancer can be caused by a variety of factors, but smoking, drinking, and stimulation by hot tea are the main causes. Early metastasis acts as a factor that worsens the prognosis of esophageal cancer, so esophageal cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 5 to 15%, which is known to have a very poor prognosis. Therefore, early detection is the most important thing to improve survival rates, and education and promotion are needed for the general public with risk factors and pre-cancerous lesions.

In the stomach, there are cells that secrete hydrochloric acid, which is a strong acid, to digest the food. Interestingly, most people do not experience any issues with the stomach lining caused by this acid. However, if there is a malfunction due to certain reasons, the lining of the stomach or duodenum can be damaged, leading to an ulcer. In the past, gastric ulcers were more common than duodenal ulcers, but recently, duodenal ulcers seem to be more prevalent. Approximately 1-2% of the population is said to suffer from peptic ulcers at least once in their lifetime.

What is a Gastric Ulcer? It refers to a state where the stomach lining is eroded by stomach acid during digestion. The lining is made up of cells that line the inside of the stomach, serving not only to prevent various bacteria from invading the gastrointestinal tract but also to protect the gastrointestinal tract from stomach acid and other harmful substances.

Symptoms of Gastric Ulcers When the lining is eroded, the stomach or duodenum is exposed to the attack of stomach acid, causing severe pain in the upper abdomen and a burning sensation. In some cases, the pain may temporarily subside after eating. Other symptoms may include heartburn, belching, and vomiting with blood, which can appear as dark, tarry stools or vomiting with pinkish blood. In severe cases, when the blood vessels inside the lining are damaged, bleeding can occur. In extreme situations, a hole (perforation) may develop in the stomach or duodenum, leading to peritonitis, and if not treated promptly with surgery, it can be life-threatening. Additionally, recurrent ulcers can result in deep scars, which can cause obstruction in the food passage, leading to vomiting, abdominal pain, and bloating.

Causes of Gastric Ulcers Unless there are special circumstances, being diagnosed with an ulcer does not require hospitalization. Endoscopy should be performed to check for the presence of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, and in the case of gastric ulcers, a tissue biopsy should be performed to ensure that there are no cancer cells present. Visual inspection with endoscopy alone is insufficient to determine the presence of cancer cells. The typical treatment options include acid-neutralizing agents or acid secretion inhibitors to suppress stomach acid secretion, and if bacteria are present, antibiotics are also prescribed. The duration of antibiotic use is usually 1-2 weeks, while the entire treatment period usually takes around 2-3 months.

Causes of gastric ulcers If sudden severe abdominal pain occurs, there is a possibility of a hole (perforation) in the stomach or duodenum, and immediate medical attention at the emergency room is necessary. In the case of perforation, emergency surgery is required. If there is bleeding or a color change in the stools resembling that of dark noodles, it indicates the possibility of bleeding from the ulcer. In such cases, seeking immediate medical attention at the emergency room for blood transfusion and close observation is necessary, and if the bleeding does not stop, attempting endoscopic hemostasis may be considered. However, if bleeding continues, emergency surgery should be performed.