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Common symptoms of gastritis include: Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, blood in your stools, fever.

Because gastritis damages the lining of the stomach it can lead to bleeding. If you have any signs of bleeding including vomiting blood, black stools or blood in the stool it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

There are 7 types of gastritis:

• Acute Gastritis: Acute gastritis is more symptomatic than its chronic counterpart and can include serious complications like hemorrhages or erosion. The most common cause of acute gastritis is the overuse of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) drugs like ibuprofen, sodium naproxen, and diclofenac. Other causes of acute gastritis can be alcohol abuse, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, a myocardial infarction, and even stress.
  Acute gastritis can be diagnosed by its symptoms, from tissue samples, or via endoscopy. Under a microscope, stomach tissue affected by acute gastritis appears red, inflamed, and contains excessive blood vessels (hyperemia). In more serious cases, tissue death (necrosis) of stomach glands is possible. Most patients may have mild stomach irritability and indigestion. In moderate to severe cases, patients may have upper abdominal (epigastric) pain, nausea, and might even vomit blood.
• Chronic Gastritis: Chronic gastritis is the term used for when the stomach lining becomes inflamed repeatedly or for an extended period of time. When this occurs, the stomach lining loses protective cells and function. Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include upper abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, loss of appetite, and indigestion. Although stomach irritation is common, it is not always a symptom of chronic gastritis. There are several types of chronic gastritis that are classified by different causes:
  • Type A is caused by dying stomach cells and can increase the risk of cancer, anemia, and vitamin deficiencies
  • Type B is caused by the H. pylori bacteria, and is the most common among the three
  • Type C can lead to stomach lining erosion and is caused by chemical irritants such as anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, or bile.
• Atrophic Gastritis: Atrophic gastritis, also known as Type A or B gastritis, is a subtype of chronic gastritis. The key difference between atrophic and other forms of gastritis is the death of stomach glands and their replacement with intestinal and fibrous tissues.
  The stomach must secrete essential chemicals like hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor in order to digestive food. Atrophic gastritis, however, directly interferes with this stomach function because it kills the cells required to produce them.
• Antral Gastritis: Antral gastritis is a less common form of stomach inflammation than acute or chronic gastritis. Antral gastritis is unique in that it occurs in the lower portion of the stomach, also known as the antrum. Older adults are most likely to have this type of gastritis. Antral gastritis can be caused by a virus, bacteria, stomach injury, or erosive medications. The main symptom for this type of gastritis is indigestion. Additionally, inflammation in the stomach can cause some patients to feel a burning sensation in the abdomen. While the main symptom of antral gastritis is indigestion, antral gastritis can also cause other typical gastritis symptoms such as nausea, bloating, flatulence, and changes in stool color. Antral gastritis can be treated with stomach antacids or antibiotics if a bacterial infection is present.
• Autoimmue Gastritis: Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the stomach lining. The main difference between autoimmune gastritis and the more common forms is that in autoimmune gastritis, the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies stomach cells as harmful. This can cause disruption in the production of gastric acid. In addition, the cells affected by autoimmune gastritis are vital to absorbing Vitamin B12, so pernicious anemia is common. The main symptoms of autoimmune gastritis are nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating, and abdominal pain. Some patients, however, may not express symptoms at all.
• Erosive Gastritis: Erosive gastritis leads to the formation of ulcers and bleeding in the lining of the stomach instead of inflammation. Although erosive gastritis is typically acute, it can also be chronic with little to no symptoms. In severe cases, erosive gastritis can result in extreme discomfort every time food is consumed. Erosive gastritis typically includes different symptoms as well, such as vomiting of blood or black colored stool.
  Erosive gastritis is most commonly caused by extreme consumption of certain drugs like steroids, NSAIDs, or anti-inflammatory drugs. Because the causes of erosive gastritis are similar to the causes of general gastritis, diagnosing erosive gastritis can be challenging. A doctor may have to carry out additional tests to confirm the diagnosis, or even take an x-ray of the stomach. Those who show persistent symptoms are recommended to consult their doctor as soon as possible to receive the proper treatment and diet recommendations.
• Alcoholic Gastritis: Alcoholic gastritis is the gastritis that is caused by the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcohol can limit stomach’s ability to produce acids, which often results in inflammation. Alcoholic gastritis symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen area, loss of appetite, vomiting, or bloating. It is possible for a doctor to diagnose alcoholic gastritis from a patient’s history with heavy drinking and symptoms consistent with gastritis. If a patient stops drinking but has continuing symptoms, a physician may perform an endoscopy to seek any other reasons for such symptoms and the reasons for discomfort. Consult your physician if you have a history of alcohol use and are experiencing digestive discomfort.

The treatment of upset stomach depends on the underlying cause. If no specific underlying cause is found there are many treatments to focus on reducing symptoms like nausea, bloating and diarrhea. Limiting irritating substances such as non-steroidal pain medications and alcohol is also important. If you have an upset stomach book an appointment with a PlushCare doctor to discuss your treatment options.

Assuming our doctors deem it necessary to prescribe you upset stomach medication, they will electronically send your prescription to your local pharmacy as soon as your appointment is over, ensuring that you get prompt and efficient treatment.

Medications that block gastric acid secretion are often prescribed to help the stomach lining heal. If H. pylori bacterial infection is diagnosed a course of antibiotics is prescribed to eliminate the infection.