Differential Diagnosis for Hemorrhagic Gastritis
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Stress-induced gastritis: This condition is often seen in critically ill patients and is associated with significant stress, such as severe burns, trauma, or sepsis. The stress leads to mucosal damage and erosion, resulting in hemorrhagic gastritis.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Helicobacter pylori infection: A common cause of gastritis, H. pylori can lead to chronic inflammation and, in some cases, acute hemorrhagic gastritis.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use: Long-term or high-dose use of NSAIDs can cause gastric mucosal damage, leading to hemorrhagic gastritis.
- Alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol use can directly damage the gastric mucosa, leading to hemorrhagic gastritis.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Infectious esophagitis or gastritis due to cytomegalovirus (CMV): Especially in immunocompromised patients, CMV can cause severe and potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal infections.
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) esophagitis or gastritis: Similar to CMV, HSV can cause severe infections in immunocompromised individuals, leading to hemorrhagic gastritis.
Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic gastritis: A rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastric mucosa, which can lead to hemorrhagic gastritis.
- Gastric involvement in systemic vasculitides: Certain vasculitides, such as polyarteritis nodosa or systemic lupus erythematosus, can rarely cause hemorrhagic gastritis due to vascular inflammation.
- Fungal infections: In severely immunocompromised patients, fungal infections like candidiasis or aspergillosis can cause hemorrhagic gastritis.