Do you also suffer from gastritis? According to the Virtual Health Library of the Ministry of Healthgastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the inside of the stomach and can be caused by a number of factors, such as infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylorialso known as H. pylori. A very common question on the subject is whether there are different types of gastritis and whether there is one that is more worrisome for health.
In order to clarify these issues, Care for Life interviewed gastroenterologist Stéfano Gonçalves, who listed all types of this disease and explained which is the best treatment for each one of them. Check out!
What is gastritis? Know the causes of this gastric problem
If you don’t know what gastritis is or are in doubt if the symptoms you’re experiencing are common in this painting, we’ll explain! According to the specialist, gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach mucosa that can have different causes: “The most common is infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, but it can be motivated by pyogenic bacteria, viruses, mycobacteria, syphilis, parasites and fungi. Another reason is diseases of the immune system, such as autoimmune gastritis, sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease, and eosinophilic, collagenous, and lymphocytic gastritis,” said Dr. Stefano. To confirm the condition and its causes, an endoscopy and biopsy must be performed.
A curiosity that the doctor points out is that there are differences between gastritis, which is an inflammation process, and gastropathy, which is damage to the stomach mucosa caused by other reasons: “It can have the same symptoms as gastritis and, doctors often treat the two as synonyms, but they are not! Gastropathies are caused by external agents (anti-inflammatories, alcohol, drugs, other medications), bile reflux, vascular disorders or systemic diseases (shock, sepsis)”.
Are there types of gastritis? Understand the differences between them!
doctor Stéfano explains that there are several types of gastritis and their classification varies according to their cause. “If it is recent (acute gastritis) or old (chronic gastritis), if it is only in a part of the stomach or in the whole organ (pangastritis). It also depends on the appearance on endoscopy – hemorrhagic gastritis, if bleeding; enanthematous gastritis, if it is reddish; erosive type, if you have small superficial wounds; and nodular, full of small ripples”, differentiated the doctor. It is also worth mentioning nervous gastritis, caused by an anxious and/or stressed emotional state.
In the case of chronic gastritis, it is important to observe whether there are signs of atrophy (when the mucosa degenerates). “This atrophy may be associated with foci of intestinal metaplasia, an alteration of the stomach mucosa that may precede the appearance of cancer”, warned the gastroenterologist.
Are there more dangerous types of gastritis?
In fact, it is important to be careful and attentive with all the types of gastritis mentioned here, since all of them can cause extremely serious symptoms for the patient’s health: “Hemorrhagic gastritis leads to blood loss, infections can spread to other organs ( with the exception of Helicobacter pylori), as well as diseases of the immune system. Any type of gastritis, if severe enough, can lead to the formation of deeper sores (ulcers), which cause bleeding or stomach perforation”. It is also essential to understand that any chronic gastritis, if left untreated, over time can lead to atrophy, metaplasia and, even worse, stomach cancer.
Know the treatment for each type of gastritis
According to the gastroenterologist, each type of gastritis requires a different treatment:
- Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics;
- infections caused by viruses, with antivirals;
- for fungi, with antifungals;
- autoimmune diseases may have specific treatment depending on the type of disease;
- if it was caused by a food allergy, such as diet;
- The inflammation itself can be treated with antacids such as aluminum hydroxide, with drugs that coat the mucosa, and with drugs that inhibit the production of acid by the stomach.
But, regardless of the cause of gastritis, it is important to maintain control of the disease by following a balanced diet and adopting healthy lifestyle habits!
Source: cuidadospelavida.com.br
