The digestive system is not only the most complex in our body, it also experiences tremendous stress every day. Irrational nutrition, coffee all day and a heavy dinner, fatty, sweet, spicy. It is not surprising that gastritis today is not uncommon even among young people. Abdominal pain, burning and indigestion are reasons for an immediate visit to the doctor, since the complications of gastritis are much more difficult to treat.
What is gastritis
This is an inflammatory process that occurs in the gastric mucosa. In some cases, the process extends to deeper layers. The most common cause is the bacterium Helicobacter.
Gastritis symptoms are pain in the stomach. It can be different, accompanied by intestinal disorders or constipation. Often, patients report severe bloating. Diagnosis is onlyspecialist based on the results of the survey. The treatment is carried out through therapeutic nutrition, as well as antibiotics, for example, Omez. Often, drugs are used to reduce acidity (this is important so as not to irritate the affected areas), such as Nolpaza. In parallel, drugs are used that protect the mucous membranes, for example, Almagel. If treatment is not started on time, then there is a high probability of developing complications of gastritis.
Forms of gastritis
To begin with, it can be acute or chronic. The first develops rapidly, usually in a matter of hours or days. The cause of acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa can be infection with bacteria or a short exposure to irritants (drugs, chemicals, etc.). It is characterized by cellular infiltration (accumulation in the tissues of particles and substances that are not their normal component), a violation of regeneration and subsequent atrophy of the glandular epithelium, a disorder of the motor, secretory and endocrine functions of the stomach, as well as intestinal metaplasia. Acute gastritis, in turn, can be phlegmonous, corrosive, catarrhal and fibrous.
Chronic gastritis manifests itself as persistent structural changes in the gastric mucosa, practically has no clinical manifestations. It can be bacterial, autoimmune. Reflux gastritis is also quite common, which develops as a result of the reflux of bile acids and lysolecithin into the stomach.
Depending on the acidity of the stomachgastritis with high acidity (complications will be discussed later) or low acidity may develop.
Types of flow
The most common and simplest form of acute illness is called catarrhal. There can be many reasons for its appearance. Gastritis in this case develops with rotavirus and allergic reactions. In this case, the mucous membrane is destroyed slightly. Usually only the surface layer is damaged, which recovers fairly quickly.
No antibiotics prescribed for treatment. In this case, the body's defenses are sufficient to restore the integrity of the mucosa. Be sure to follow a sparing diet. This is important in order not to irritate the damaged mucosa and create all conditions for its recovery. Usually, doctors recommend removing all fatty and fried foods from their diet for 10-14 days, switching to cereal soups, steam cutlets and mashed boiled vegetables. In the absence of proper treatment, complications of gastritis are not excluded, which will take much longer to treat.
Complicated course of acute gastritis
It is accompanied by the production of a large amount of acid. Therefore, often the disease can go into a chronic stage. Moreover, if you choose the right treatment, then you can stop the symptoms in 5-7 days. It takes more time to fully heal.
Separately, it is worth mentioning erosive gastritis. Complications are in the development of the ulcerative process. This form of gastritis usually develops after alkalis or acids enter the stomach, which are capable ofdamage its shell. Depending on the degree of exposure, the walls of the mucosa are destroyed - this is the first step towards the development of an ulcer. Treatment involves the strictest diet and the use of special drugs to protect the mucosa and heal, destroy bacteria.
Phlegmonous gastritis. It usually develops when a foreign body enters the mucous membrane and the subsequent infection of this area with an infection. Complication of gastritis is manifested in the form of peritonitis. Treatment involves surgery.
Fibrinous type. Its second name is diphtheria. It develops as a result of poisoning with sublimate, acids and serious diseases of an infectious nature. Quite rare.
Chronic gastritis
It doesn't just happen on its own. Usually this is facilitated by frequent relapses and improper treatment. The insidiousness of this disease lies in the fact that for a long time it can proceed unnoticed. The cause of its development may be damage to the mucous membrane by bacteria, as well as the reflux of bile into the stomach.
Complications of chronic gastritis are usually much more serious, since the mucosal lesion is deeper and more extensive than in acute gastritis. A characteristic feature is that the growth of connective tissue in the mucosa leads to a decrease in acid production. The reason is simple: connective tissue replaces the cells that produce this secret. That is, in this case we are talking about gastritis with low acidity. There are complications, but the risk of their development can be minimized. To do this, you need to eat right and lead a he althy lifestyle. Besides,pain cannot be tolerated. It is necessary to immediately undergo a diagnosis and only on the basis of the results obtained receive a competent appointment.
Consequences
It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms of gastritis in time. Treatment in adults and children can be very effective, the main thing is not to start the disease. The disease itself is not so terrible, but if you do not start adequate treatment, you will have to face quite serious complications. And the very first on the list is stomach ulcers.
It occurs if acute gastritis is not treated. Pathology most often occurs at the site of erosion. The condition is accompanied by sharp pains, sometimes vomiting with an admixture of blood may appear. The ulcer affects all layers of the tissues of the stomach. The wounds are corroded by the stomach's own acid. Complication of gastritis is dangerous because it is impossible to cure it. But if the doctor's recommendations are followed, the ulcer may heal.
A stomach ulcer can also lead to serious complications. Therapy must be prescribed by the attending physician, there is no single treatment regimen, only the diet will be similar, which we will discuss below. A common consequence is a deficiency of B vitamins, resulting from poor absorption of nutrients. Frequent stomach bleeding is the cause of anemia. The alarm must be beaten even if the blood loss is small.
Bleeding
It would seem that everything is really so serious, because we are talking about the symptoms of gastritis. Treatment in adults must necessarily take place under the supervision of an experienced gastroenterologist. Aterosive gastritis can seriously fear internal bleeding. They can be caused by an ordinary seizure. Therefore, if you notice an admixture of blood in the vomit or unusually dark feces, you should immediately call an ambulance.
Pancreatitis
Our body is a single system. When we talk about the digestive organs, they are all closely related. Chronic gastritis leads to inflammation of the pancreas. It is manifested by severe pain, mainly in the left upper abdomen. Usually the pain appears immediately after food enters the stomach. Additional symptoms are diarrhea and nausea.
Treatment of pancreatitis is a complex of measures. Depending on the results of the diagnosis, antibiotics are prescribed, as well as preparations containing digestive enzymes. Antispasmodics are often used to relieve pain. Carry out, as a rule, and preventive treatment of dysbacteriosis with preparations containing live bifidobacteria. Treatment must be long-term, otherwise the effect will be short-lived. This usually requires at least a month of medication, after which the therapeutic diet must be followed for several more months.
Duodenal and liver damage
Most often, this complication develops against the background of gastritis with low acidity. At first glance, it is quite harmless, but causes serious changes in the digestive system. In fact,there is a degeneration of the gastric mucosa, which cannot but affect the intestines. The duodenum and liver suffer. Such complications are characterized by severe pain and flatulence, diarrhea. Sometimes patients even complain of loss of consciousness.
In a chain, this leads to protein and vitamin starvation, since these substances are not properly absorbed. Dry skin develops, stomatitis, seizures on the lips, nail plates are deformed. The main treatment is to relieve the burden on the digestive organs: a long-term diet and parallel intake of vitamins and minerals. If necessary, drugs are connected to normalize the functioning of the stomach and liver.
Malignant tumors
These are the most formidable complications of chronic gastritis with increased secretory activity. Doctors have long noted that if inflammatory or erosive processes occur on the mucous membranes for a long time, then it is here that the development of tumors begins. Apparently, the degeneration of tissues at some point becomes irreversible. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the stomach in time.
Malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are almost always a surgical intervention, in more than half of the cases it is not possible to stop the disease. In this case, the patient can only take drugs that make life easier. If the operation was successful, then chemotherapy is recommended.
Features of childhood
Complications of gastritis in children develop much faster. This disease usually affects the surface layer of the mucosa and leads to its pathologicalchanges. This disease very quickly leads to ulcerative lesions. Most often, favorable conditions for the development of this pathology are malnutrition or drug abuse.
In the absence of proper treatment against the background of gastritis, gastroduodenitis, colitis and cholecystitis also develop. To correct this condition, antibiotics are prescribed along with probiotics, enzymes and antispasmodics, antihistamines and adsorbents, antiemetics and antidiarrheals. The doctor chooses medicines on an individual basis.
Diet for gastritis
In general, nutrition should be based on the following principles:
- exclusion from the diet of heavy and coarse foods, as well as foods that cause fermentation and affect the level of acidity;
- meals should be frequent: at least 7 times a day;
- dishes should only be warm;
- Food should have the consistency of mashed potatoes.
The doctor will write the exact list of allowed or prohibited foods. It is quite possible to cure gastritis, as well as its complications, but the process is not fast. In addition, there is always a possibility that the imaginary good he alth is just another stage of remission, as is the case with chronic gastritis. A little eating disorder or stress, and it gets worse again.
