Taking medications, poor 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 proved that infectious gastritis is as common as non-infectious gastritis.
General ailment information
The main reason for this pathology is considered non-compliance with hygiene, and a weakened immunity is a favorable background for the development of this disease. The likelihood of an infectious gastritis becomes higher in the absence of a normal diet and a healthy diet.
This form of the disease has similar clinical manifestations as non-infectious. In addition, infectious inflammation of the gastric mucosa can be acute and chronic. Without treatment, the disease often leads to complex and irreversible consequences. Therapy of such gastritis requires a serious approach and qualified medical care.
What triggers the disease, the 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 pathogenic agent is the cause of the development of not only gastritis, but also gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer. For such a significant discovery, US physicians were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2005.
Helicobacter pylori and stomach cancer - what is common?
Helicobacter as a causative agent of infectious gastritis can be involved in the development of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, a 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 members of the family are carriers of the microbe, if at least one of them is diagnosed with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium.
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 bacteria to a number of antibacterial drugs. The microbe is able to not only survive in an aggressive acidic environment, but at the same time destroy the mucous membrane, causing its inflammation.
Associated infections
And although according to preliminary WHO data, Helicobacter pylori is present in the body in the predominant part of the population, not everyone has stomach problems. The acute infectious form of gastritis occurs as a result of a violation of the bacterial balance in the intestinal tract and the prevalence of pathogens such as:
- staphylococcus;
- streptococcus;
- salmonellosis;
- tuberculosis;
- syphilis;
- Candida fungus.
Causes of the disease
After infection, characteristic symptoms may not appear. In the treatment of Helicobacter pylori, there may not be any need at all. But if an infected patient has weak immunity, unable to suppress the activity of infection, the likelihood of developing an inflammatory process increases. The following factors are able to activate the disease:
- abuse of not quite healthy food (fatty, fried, smoked, salty);
- bad habits;
- long-term use of drugs that have an aggressive effect on the gastric mucosa (antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- mechanical injuries of the stomach;
- thermal or chemical burns;
- hormonal adjustment.
How does acute gastritis with Helicobacter manifest
The disease can have different symptoms and depends on the type, as well as the factor that caused the infectious gastritis. In the acute form of pathology, clinical signs appear literally several hours or days after infection. Gastritis can be recognized by symptoms such as:
- severe pain in the stomach;
- burning sensation in the lower esophagus;
- loose stools or constipation;
- intense salivation;
- lethargy and general weakness, malaise;
- bad breath;
- heartburn and sour taste in the mouth;
- lack of appetite;
- background nausea.
A stomach ache with infectious gastritis can be before or after a meal, be paroxysmal or permanent.
Chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa
In this case, the symptoms may be completely absent or less pronounced. Unlike acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa, a chronic course is often possible with low acidity of the stomach, which makes it easier to carry. But the danger of this form lies in the high probability of atrophy of the walls of the stomach and the development of ulcers 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;
- specific odor from the mouth;
- exhaustion of the body.
If you do not take any measures in the treatment of 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 annually. Doctors explain this by frequent stresses, a genetic predisposition, and a decrease in food quality. Sweets, salts, trans fats, chemical additives and minimal consumption of natural products - all this weakens the local protection of the stomach and leads to the development of the disease.
Thus, the child may be a carrier of Helicobacter pylori, but if its 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 a child begins to complain of pain in the upper abdomen or he has signs of digestive upset, it is necessary to take him to a doctor, especially if one of the parents or other family members who are constantly living with the child has a history of gastritis with Helicobacter.
Examination and diagnosis
If gastritis is suspected, the doctor must make sure whether this form of the disease is infectious or not. For this, the specialist will need the results of a comprehensive diagnosis. With infectious gastritis, the doctor:
- examine in detail the history, examine the patient’s oral cavity, talk with him about the disease and symptoms;
- palpation examines the abdomen;
- will direct the patient to take laboratory tests of blood, urine, feces;
- appoint fibrogastroscopy and pH-measurement of the stomach.
If, during an instrumental examination, the endoscopist finds suspicious symptoms or signs of oncology, he can immediately take a tissue sample for biopsy.
How to treat a disease
Treatment of infectious gastritis consists of several stages, and medication is required. However, medications alone will be ineffective if the patient does not follow a strict diet. Nutritional correction is a requirement that cannot be ignored. Thanks to the therapeutic diet, it will be possible to reduce the burden on the inflamed mucosa and improve the digestive tract. In addition, it is important to normalize the daily regimen and the schedule of meals.
In total, the course of treatment of gastritis of an infectious form 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 confirmed the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the body, the doctor prescribes a drug course that should kill the bacteria. To eradicate this persistent powerful pathogen that 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 (Fosfalugel, Almagel, Gaviscon);
- proton pump inhibitors (Omez, Nolpaza, Omeprazole);
- enzymes to improve digestion ("Festal", "Mezim", "Creon");
- preparations with bismuth.
What complications may arise
Acute gastritis without treatment very quickly becomes chronic. If this disease is not cured in time, the patient may experience serious complications:
- stomach ulcer;
- anemia;
- pancreatitis
- cholecystitis;
- swelling of the stomach.
A precancerous stage is hemorrhagic gastritis, 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 drugs
Alternative medicine can be used as an additional method of treating chronic gastritis and strengthening immunity. With an exacerbation of the disease, folk remedies are ineffective, in addition, some of them cannot be used, therefore, before starting treatment at home, you should always consult a doctor.
To relieve symptoms of infectious gastritis and eliminate pain in the stomach, patients recommend drinking tincture of thyme. To prepare the medicine, take 2 tbsp. l chopped plant material, pour a glass of boiling water and set aside for insisting for a couple of hours. Before taking the medicine, you need to drain. It is recommended to take an infusion from thyme on an empty stomach immediately after sleep.
Doctors do not recommend drinking coffee and black tea for gastritis. There is a safer alternative to these hot drinks - chamomile broth. It can be consumed during the day instead of tea. This medicinal plant relieves inflammation, normalizes metabolism, prevents the appearance of stomach pains. For gastritis, it is recommended to pour half a teaspoon of the plant's flowers with a glass of boiling water. It is advisable to drink chamomile tea before eating.
Soothing effect on the gastric mucosa decoction of plantain. 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. Drink a cooled broth daily for two weeks, 100 ml before each meal.
Slime from flax seeds has enveloping properties, therefore, protects the walls of the stomach from irritation. To get healing mucus, you need to take 2 tsp. seeds, pour them with 100 ml of boiling water and for the next five minutes, thoroughly stir the contents 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, thoroughly stirred and drunk on an empty stomach and at bedtime. It is also recommended to add 1 tsp. sea buckthorn oil.
How to prevent the development of the disease
Properly conducted 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. First of all, you need to pay attention to the regime of the day 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 abandon 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 food carefully and slowly, and not to eat dry food on the run.
To prevent infection, Helicobacter pylori needs 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 the products. The risk of developing gastritis is especially high among smokers and people who drink alcohol. Doctors consider coffee drinks to be harmful to the stomach, so it is also better to refuse them.
When communicating with a person who is a Helicobacter carrier, one should always remember about basic precautions: use your personal set of dishes and avoid close contact with him. Under any conditions, you should not share your toothbrush with anyone or drink tap water. 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 chances there are to get rid of gastritis and not to face complications.