Medication, poor-quality and unbalanced nutrition, stress, bad habits - all this puts our gastrointestinal tract at risk. One of the most common pathologies of our time is gastritis - inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Until recently, this disease was considered non-contagious, but doctors have proven that infectious gastritis occurs as often as non-infectious gastritis.
General information about the disease
The main cause of this pathology is considered poor hygiene, and a favorable background for the development of this disease is a weakened immune system. Infectious gastritis is more likely to occur in the absence of a normal eating pattern and a he althy diet.
This form of the disease has similar clinical manifestations with non-infectious. In addition, infectious inflammation of the gastric mucosa can be acute and chronic. Withouttreatment of the disease often leads to complex and irreversible consequences. The therapy of such gastritis requires a serious approach and qualified medical care.
What provokes the disease, pathogen
The cause of the infectious form of gastritis is the ingestion of pathogenic microorganisms into the stomach. The main causative agent of this disease is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter pylori). American scientists were able to prove that this disease-causing agent is the cause of the development of not only gastritis, but also gastric and duodenal ulcers. For such a significant discovery, US doctors were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2005.
Helicobacter pylori and stomach cancer - what do they have in common?
Helicobacter as the causative agent of infectious gastritis may be involved in the development of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Usually, the microbe enters the body through the oral cavity from an infected person in a domestic way, with a kiss. Almost with absolute certainty, we can say that all family members are carriers of the microbe, if at least one of them is diagnosed with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
Symptoms and treatment of gastritis depend on the degree of damage to the stomach. The complexity of the treatment of this disease, provoked by an infection, lies in the resistance of the bacterium to a number of antibacterial drugs. The microbe is able not only to survive in an aggressive acidic environment, but at the same time destroy the mucous membrane, causing it to become inflamed.
Co-infections
And although according to preliminary WHO data, Helicobacter pylori is present in the body of the predominant part of the population, not everyone has stomach problems. The acute infectious form of gastritis occurs as a result of an imbalance in the bacterial balance in the intestinal tract and the predominance of pathogens such as:
- staph;
- streptococcus;
- salmonellosis;
- tuberculosis;
- syphilis;
- Candida fungus.
Causes of disease development
After infection, characteristic symptoms may not appear. In the treatment of Helicobacter pylori, there may not be a need at all. But if an infected patient has a weak immune system that is unable to suppress the activity of the infection, the likelihood of developing an inflammatory process increases. The following factors can activate the disease:
- abuse of not quite he althy food (fatty, fried, smoked, s alty);
- bad habits;
- long-term use of drugs that have an aggressive effect on the gastric mucosa (antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- mechanical injury to the stomach;
- thermal or chemical burns;
- hormonal changes.
How acute gastritis with Helicobacter manifests itself
The disease can have different symptoms and depends on the type, as well as the factor that caused infectious gastritis. In the acute form of pathology, clinical signs appear literally after a few hours ordays after infection. You can recognize gastritis by symptoms such as:
- severe stomach pain;
- burning sensation in the lower esophagus;
- loose stools or constipation;
- intense salivation;
- lethargy and general weakness, malaise;
- bad breath;
- heartburn and sour taste in mouth;
- lack of appetite;
- background nausea.
Stomach pain with infectious gastritis can be before or after eating, be paroxysmal or permanent.
Chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa
In this case, the symptoms may be completely absent or be less pronounced. Unlike acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa, a chronic course is often possible with low acidity of the stomach, which is why it is easier to tolerate. But the danger of this form lies in the high probability of atrophy of the walls of the stomach and the development of an ulcer or oncology. Chronic gastritis with Helicobacter pylori manifests itself:
- discomfort in the epigastric region;
- poor appetite;
- frequent stool disorders;
- burning in the esophagus after eating;
- increased salivation;
- bad breath;
- depletion of the body.
If no action is taken to treat this disease, it can lead to weight loss and the development of other chronic diseases of the digestive system.
Features of infectious gastritis in children
The number of children who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is increasing every year. Doctors explain this by frequent stress, genetic predisposition, and a decrease in the quality of food. Sweets, s alts, trans fats, chemical additives and a minimal intake of natural products all weaken the local protection of the stomach and lead to the development of the disease.
Thus, a child may be a carrier of Helicobacter pylori, but if his immunity is strong enough, infectious gastritis will not occur. The causes of this disease are similar to those in adults. The acute form of the disease is manifested by the same symptoms. If the child began to complain of pain in the upper abdomen or he has signs of indigestion, it is necessary to take him to the doctor, especially if one of the parents or other family members permanently residing with the child has a history of gastritis with Helicobacter pylori.
Examination and diagnosis
If gastritis is suspected, the doctor must make sure what form of the disease it is - infectious or not. To do this, the specialist will need the results of a comprehensive diagnosis. For infectious gastritis doctor:
- will study the patient's history in detail, examine the patient's oral cavity, talk with him about the disease and symptoms;
- examines the abdomen by palpation;
- will refer the patient for laboratory tests of blood, urine, feces;
- will prescribe fibrogastroscopy and pH-metrystomach.
If an endoscopist finds suspicious symptoms or signs of cancer during an instrumental examination, he can immediately take a tissue sample for a biopsy.
How to treat the disease
Treatment of infectious gastritis consists of several stages, and medication is mandatory. However, the drugs themselves will be ineffective if the patient does not follow a strict diet. Power correction is a requirement that cannot be ignored. Thanks to a therapeutic diet, it will be possible to reduce the load on the inflamed mucosa and improve the functioning of the digestive tract. In addition, it is important to normalize the daily routine and meal schedule.
In total, the course of treatment of infectious gastritis is 3-4 weeks. If you start therapy at the first stages of the development of the disease, you will be able to get rid of the pathology as soon as possible.
What is Helicobacter pylori eradication?
This is the destruction of bacteria by drugs. If, according to the results of the examination, the patient has confirmed the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the body, the doctor prescribes a medication course that should kill the bacteria. To eradicate this persistent powerful pathogen, which does not die even under the influence of hydrochloric acid, combinations of two or three antibiotics are used. For the treatment of infectious gastritis, Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin and Metronidazole are used.
In addition to antibiotics, patients are prescribed:
- antacids("Phosphalugel", "Almagel", Gaviscon);
- proton pump inhibitors (Omez, Nolpaza, Omeprazole);
- enzymes to improve digestion ("Festal", "Mezim", "Creon");
- drugs with bismuth.
What complications may occur
Acute gastritis without treatment becomes chronic very quickly. If this disease is not cured in time, the patient may experience serious complications:
- gastric ulcer;
- anemia;
- pancreatitis;
- cholecystitis;
- stomach tumor.
Hemorrhagic gastritis is considered a precancerous stage, which is characterized by the appearance of internal gastric bleeding. At this stage, treatment does not always give the desired result.
Folk recipes for gastritis medicines
Alternative medicine can be used as an additional method of treating chronic gastritis and strengthening the immune system. With an exacerbation of the disease, folk remedies are ineffective, besides, some of them cannot be used, therefore, before starting treatment at home, you should definitely consult a doctor.
To relieve the symptoms of infectious gastritis and eliminate pain in the stomach, patients recommend drinking thyme tincture. To prepare the medicine, take 2 tbsp. l. crushed vegetable raw materials, pour a glass of boiling water and set aside to infuse for a couple of hours. Before taking the medicine you need to strain. It is recommended to take an infusion of thyme on an empty stomach immediately after sleep.
Coffee and black tea with gastritis doctors do not recommend drinking. There is a safer alternative to these hot drinks - chamomile tea. It can be consumed throughout the day instead of tea. This medicinal plant relieves inflammation, normalizes metabolism, and prevents stomach pains. For gastritis, it is recommended to pour half a teaspoon of the flowers of the plant with a glass of boiling water. It is advisable to drink chamomile tea before meals.
Decoction of plantain has a calming effect on the gastric mucosa. For 100 g of any parts of the plant, 1 liter of water is required. A pot of water and plantain is put on a slow fire and boiled for 15 minutes. You need to drink a cooled broth daily for two weeks, 100 ml before each meal.
Flax seed mucus has enveloping properties, therefore it protects the walls of the stomach from irritation. To get healing mucus, you need to take 2 tsp. seeds, pour 100 ml of boiling water over them and stir the contents thoroughly for the next five minutes or use a blender.
Also, for the treatment of gastritis, you need to drink juice from potatoes with honey. For half a glass of freshly squeezed juice, take 1 tsp. honey, stir thoroughly and drink on an empty stomach and at bedtime. It is also recommended to add 1 tsp to the drink. sea buckthorn oil.
How to prevent the development of the disease
Properly carried out prevention of infectious gastritis significantly reduces the risk of morbidity. The main principle of preventive measures is the general improvement and strengthening of the immune system.systems. First of all, you need to pay attention to the daily routine and eat food at regular intervals. For patients with gastritis, the interval between meals should not be more than 3 hours.
In addition, you should give up fast food, convenience foods, chips, soda. It is better to give preference to fiber, which is found in fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition, it is important to chew your food thoroughly and slowly, and not eat dry food on the run.
To prevent infection with Helicobacter pylori, it is necessary to visit the dentist twice a year and monitor oral hygiene. Before eating, you should always wash your hands and do not forget to pour boiling water over food. The risk of developing gastritis is especially high in smokers and people who drink alcohol. Doctors consider coffee drinks harmful to the stomach, so it is also better to refuse them.
When communicating with a person who is a carrier of Helicobacter, you should always remember the basic precautions: use your personal set of dishes and avoid close contact with him. Under no circumstances should you share your toothbrush or drink tap water with anyone. The first signs of the disease are a direct indication for visiting a doctor. The sooner the examination is completed and treatment is prescribed, the more likely it is to get rid of gastritis and not face complications.
