Chronic superficial gastritis develops due to many provoking factors. The disease may seem harmless, but is it really so? It includes a number of stages and, with the development and lack of proper therapy, it passes from one form to another.
Features of the disease
This ailment, like other gastrointestinal lesions, has an acute or chronic form. Chronic superficial gastritis often recurs. With a prolonged course, degeneration of the mucous membrane eventually begins, which leads to an atrophic form. Its symptoms are pronounced in elderly patients. This condition is the most dangerous, as it can provoke the appearance of a cancerous tumor.
The article will consider the initial stage, which in medicine is called superficial gastritis. The elimination of the disease is achieved with drugs in combination with diet.
Varieties of chronic superficial gastritis
Chronic gastritis has its own varieties, depending on which focus of the stomach has undergone pathological changes.
- Chronic superficial reflux gastritis belongs to type C. Its development is provoked by a violation of the function of the pylorus of the stomach. This causes reflux (reflux) of the contents of the duodenum into the stomach. The patient has nausea, weight loss, heaviness in the stomach, belching, indigestion or constipation, dyspepsia. Often there is dry skin, a decrease in hemoglobin and asthenia.
- Chronic superficial antral gastritis is type B. The disease is caused by inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the negative effects of bacteria. A high level of acidity is noted, which is the basis for the diagnosis of gastric pH-metry. The disease manifests itself in pain in the stomach. They can appear both before and after eating. The patient complains of belching, nausea, heaviness in the stomach, stool instability. Without proper treatment, such a chronic focal superficial gastritis provokes gross changes in the gastrointestinal tract.
The main stages of superficial gastritis
The first stage of the disease is superficial gastritis. This form does not cause much suffering to the patient. Inflammation of the gastric mucosa is not pronounced. With it, tissues located in the depths of the stomach and duodenum are not affected. The disease does not belong to the category of dangerous conditions. At this stage, the further development of the disease should be stopped, since it easily flows into the next stage and takes a chronic course.
Initially, chronic superficial gastritis was not regarded by medicine as an independent disease. This form was observed by doctors, but no special therapy was prescribed.
Superficial gastritis, despite the seeming harmlessness, needs timely treatment. It is important to understand here that the diagnosis involves changes in the stomach, an increased level of mucosal irritation, an inadequate response to certain foods and other factors.
Diagnostics
When conducting diagnostics, it is important to determine not only the form of the disease (chronic atrophic superficial gastritis, hypertrophic form with a low level of acidity or, conversely, increased). This helps to understand the further development of the disease. For example, gastritis with a low background of acidity signals a possible development of an oncological tumor.
Symptoms of superficial gastritis
Doctors call chronic superficial gastritis simple or catarrhal, since inflammation affects only the upper layer of the mucosa. The younger the patient, the faster the restoration of tissues undergoing irritation.
How does chronic superficial gastritis manifest itself ? Symptoms are different. Some time after a meal that irritates the stomach (after about 2-6 hours), the first symptoms of acute gastritis may appear.
In terms of exacerbation, superficial gastritis can be mild, moderate, and severe. In accordance with the degree of damage, the symptoms will be different.
With superficial gastritis in a chronic form, inflammation does not affect the glands and does not provoke their atrophy. Most often, this type of disease occurs in men at a young age. Sometimes the pain is pronounced and very reminiscent of pain with an ulcer. Patients complain of heaviness in the stomach, belching and heartburn.
How does chronic superficial gastritis manifest itself? An exacerbation is characterized by a decrease in appetite, asthenia, dizziness, sour belching, upset stomach, an unpleasant taste in the mouth with increased salivation or dryness, a feeling of constriction of the stomach.
The strength of pain can be different. The skin becomes pale, the tongue is covered with a white or gray coating. Possible drop in blood pressure and increased heart rate. A general analysis reveals neutrophilic leukocytosis.
The main causes of the disease
Undoubtedly, the disease does not appear for no reason. This condition is preceded by a systematic eating disorder with the use of any products that have affected the development of the disease. For example, a pathological condition develops from the use of spicy, poor-quality food, coffee on an empty stomach, stress, long breaks in eating.
In order not to disturb your health, you should be careful about your diet and diet, as well as periodically examine the state of the digestive tract.
If there are many provocateurs of development, then even the superficial form can manifest itself quite unpleasantly. Typically, the duration of catarrhal gastritis is 5 days, since the restoration of the mucous membrane passes quite quickly.
Basic diagnostic methods
Modern medicine involves the use of endoscopy. This procedure began to be carried out painlessly, as technological progress stepped far forward. Modern diagnostics can give a complete picture of the state of the gastric mucosa, determine what form of gastritis the body is affected by, whether a person has an ulcer or an oncological process, or whether gastritis is atrophic or superficial.
Treatment of a mild form of the disease can be limited by following a sparing diet and quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
Complications
Chronic superficial gastritis can cause complications such as dystrophy of superficial epithelial cells, as well as provoke inflammatory infiltration of the plate of the gastric mucosa.
Recently, medicine has found a direct connection between the surface form and the propagation of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is present in the stomach of any person. If it is detected, a special course of treatment should be taken under the strict supervision of a doctor.
The use of a diet with pathogenic bacteria will not be able to fight, and if you do not undergo the necessary therapy, then not only the upper layers of the stomach, but also the epithelium, which lies much deeper, will be destroyed.
Treatment
How does chronic superficial gastritis stop? Treatment involves the use of drugs in conjunction with a diet. A gastroenterologist prescribes antibiotics that help lower the acidity of the stomach.
Usually, in the aggregate, two drugs are prescribed: Metronidazole and Clarithromycin, or Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin. The duration of the course and dose is selected by the doctor. As a rule, the duration of treatment is two weeks.
To lower acidity, drugs such as Omeprazole and Ranitidine can be used. These funds cause not only a decrease in acidity, but also help to protect the mucosa and relieve pain. It is also possible to use antacids, which also reduce the acidity of the stomach. These drugs include Almagel, Maalox, Gastal.
With the superficial form of gastritis, gastroprotectors are not used, since similar drugs are used for a disease such as a stomach ulcer.
Compliance with the rules of a healthy lifestyle
If doctors have determined that you have superficial gastritis, then the basis of treatment will be a review of the regimen, diet and rejection of bad habits. After all, it is no secret that gastritis, which degenerates into an ulcer, can cause cancer. Today, many young men and women die from such an ailment.
The correct daily routine, healthy eating, reducing stress factors and skillful confrontation with the adversities of life is the key to long-term full-fledged work of the body, including the stomach.
Dieting
What is important in treating a condition such as chronic superficial gastritis? Diet is the foundation of therapy. Critical importance is given to food temperature. Very hot dishes (temperature above 60 ° C) and very cold (below 15 ° C) provoke acute pain caused by irritation of the walls of the stomach.
The best option is the use of food, the temperature of which is approximately 37º.
Food consistency
Products must be carefully ground. It is advisable to bring them to a state of liquid slurry. Solid and rough foods should be avoided. The daily diet should be about 3 kg.
When compiling a diet, one takes into account the important fact that for breakfast a person should consume about 30% of the total daily calorie and food volume, for a second breakfast or snack before lunch, only 15%, lunch should be 40%, and dinner 15%.
If the patient has such concomitant diseases as inflammation of the pancreas, cholecystitis, then it is advisable to take food not 4 times a day, but break it into 6-8 servings. Supper must be long before going to bed (at least 2 hours). In no case should you overeat, take long breaks between meals and consume dry or spicy foods.
This eliminates the use of:
- thick meat or chicken broths of high fat content;
- food containing pepper and salt;
- marinades;
- products that contain spices, preservatives, artificial based flavors, flavor enhancers;
- raw vegetables.
Boiled meat, chicken or rabbit meat are recommended. All products are consumed in crushed form in the form of mashed potatoes or steamed cutlets. From fish, it is recommended to use lean cod, pike perch, pink salmon, and pike.
Vegetables are consumed only in pureed form. Fruits are recommended in the form of juices, stewed jelly and mashed potatoes. Porridge from semolina, oat, rice groats should be boiled in water. Dairy products should not be fatty.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of superficial gastritis
Chronic gastritis gastritis can be treated with alternative methods. Among the methods, a number of the most accessible and effective should be highlighted. First of all, they recommend the use of vegetable juices.
Drinking potato juice is one of the most effective methods. It is able to eliminate a small inflammation in the stomach. Grinding potatoes on a fine grater, strain the juice and drink immediately after pressing, as it quickly darkens.
Initially, potato juice is consumed little by little, about 1/8 cup 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then the volume increases to half a glass in one go. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Cabbage juice also has a beneficial effect. It can be consumed in the mornings and evenings an hour before eating half a glass. Use is contraindicated in acute gastritis or exacerbation of superficial gastritis, which occurs in a chronic form.
Decoction of flax seeds. The result is a thick jelly-like drink. The use of such a drug protects the gastric mucosa from acid exposure, which contributes to the rapid relief of the inflammatory process. To make such a decoction, you need to boil 70 g of flaxseed in 1 liter of water for 5 minutes and let it brew for 2 hours, then pass through a sieve and take 1 tbsp. decoction before each meal.
Drinking herbs collection. Chamomile, St. John's wort, celandine are taken in the same amount and poured with two camps of boiling water for the night. The next day, 30 minutes before a meal should drink 1/4 cup. The procedure is repeated 4 times a day.
Conclusion
Superficial gastritis is the first step to the development of an atrophic process in the stomach, which can lead to the appearance of a cancerous tumor. At the first symptoms of the disease, it is advised to immediately consult a gastroenterologist. It is very important to suspend the further development of the disease. The disease progresses quickly enough. Treatment is carried out in conjunction with diet food.