Patient Information for Gastritis
If you have been diagnosed with gastritis, the most important action is to get tested for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria and receive treatment if positive, as this is the dominant cause of gastritis and can be cured with antibiotics. 1, 2
What Is Gastritis?
Gastritis means inflammation of your stomach lining. 3 The most common causes include:
- Bacterial infection: H. pylori is the most important cause of environmental gastritis and determines your risk for future stomach problems 1
- Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin 3, 4
- Autoimmune conditions: Your immune system mistakenly attacks stomach cells 5, 3
Essential Testing You Need
H. pylori Testing
- You must be tested for H. pylori infection 5, 2
- Non-invasive tests include stool antigen test or urea breath test 5
- If you test positive, you will receive antibiotic treatment 2
- After treatment, you need a follow-up test to confirm the bacteria is gone 5
Additional Blood Tests
If your gastritis is severe (atrophic gastritis), your doctor may check: 5
- Vitamin B12 levels
- Iron levels
- Complete blood count to look for anemia
- Antibodies that indicate autoimmune gastritis
Treatment Options Available
Acid-Reducing Medications
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce stomach acid and help healing: 3
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): Provide strong acid suppression and rapid symptom relief
- Histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs): Reduce acid secretion and promote healing
- Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs): Newer option for robust acid control
Mucoprotective Agents
These medications protect and heal your stomach lining by: 3
- Promoting tissue regeneration
- Reducing inflammation
- Protecting against oxidative stress
Why Follow-Up Matters
If You Have Advanced Gastritis (Atrophic Gastritis)
- You need surveillance endoscopy approximately every 3 years if you have extensive stomach involvement 5, 2
- This is because advanced atrophic gastritis increases your risk of stomach cancer 5, 6
- The risk stratification depends on how much of your stomach is affected and the severity of changes 5, 7
Specific Patterns That Require Monitoring
- Corpus-predominant atrophy: Suggests autoimmune gastritis and requires vitamin B12 monitoring 5
- Antral-predominant or pan-gastric atrophy: Typically related to H. pylori infection 5
- Intestinal metaplasia: When present, virtually always indicates underlying atrophic gastritis and warrants surveillance 5, 2
Important Actions to Take
Eradicate H. pylori if present: This is the single most important intervention to prevent progression and reduce cancer risk 1, 2
Lifestyle modifications: 3
- Avoid NSAIDs if possible, or use them with protective medications
- Discuss with your doctor about aspirin if you take it for heart protection
Attend surveillance appointments: If you have advanced gastritis, keeping your endoscopy appointments every 3 years is critical for early detection of any concerning changes 5, 2
Report new symptoms: Contact your doctor if you develop:
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Severe fatigue (may indicate anemia)
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not assume gastritis is cured without confirmation testing after H. pylori treatment 5
- Do not skip surveillance endoscopies if recommended—these are designed to catch problems early when they are most treatable 2
- Do not ignore symptoms of vitamin B12 or iron deficiency (fatigue, weakness, numbness), especially with autoimmune gastritis 5