What is gastritis?
Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach's inner lining. Acute gastritis comes on suddenly, often from painkillers, heavy drinking or infection, while chronic gastritis is mostly linked to H. pylori infection (Sipponen & Maaroos, 2015).
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
How do acute and chronic gastritis differ?
| Acute gastritis | Chronic gastritis | |
|---|---|---|
| Causes | NSAIDs, alcohol, severe stress, infection | H. pylori, autoimmunity, aging |
| Symptoms | Sudden upper belly pain, nausea | Often none, or bloating |
| Course | Improves once the cause is removed | Can progress to atrophy or intestinal metaplasia |
Long-running chronic gastritis can lead to atrophic gastritis (loss of stomach glands) and intestinal metaplasia (stomach lining turning intestine-like), both linked to higher stomach cancer risk. Black stools, vomiting blood, weight loss or trouble swallowing need prompt medical attention.
Treatment
Cutting back on the trigger—NSAIDs or alcohol—and using acid-reducing medicine when needed are the basics. If H. pylori is found, guidelines such as the Maastricht V consensus (Malfertheiner et al., 2017) recommend eradication therapy combining antibiotics with an acid reducer. See Helicobacter pylori for details.
FAQ
- Does chronic gastritis on a checkup need treatment?
- If you have no symptoms and test negative for H. pylori, it's often just monitored. With atrophy or metaplasia, ask your doctor about follow-up endoscopy.
- Does milk help gastritis?
- It may soothe briefly, but it can also stimulate acid, and there's little evidence it helps healing.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-25
See also: Iron-Deficiency Anemia
References
- Sipponen, P., & Maaroos, H.-I. (2015). Chronic gastritis. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 50(6), 657–667.
- Malfertheiner, P., Megraud, F., O'Morain, C. A., et al. (2017). Management of Helicobacter pylori infection—the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Report. Gut, 66(1), 6–30.