Gastritis is inflammation or irritation of the stomach lining. It
can be caused by some medicines (such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory
medicines), overuse of alcohol, stomach acid, or bacterial infection.
An infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause gastritis.
H. pylori is also the bacteria that causes
One way to test for H. pylori is to take a
tissue sample from the stomach. The doctor uses a thin, flexible, lighted
viewing instrument (endoscope) to look down your throat and into your stomach.
Looking through the endoscope, your doctor may also see irritation or
inflammation in the lining of your stomach. This irritation is gastritis. And a
tissue sample will tell the doctor if the cause is H. pylori.
Primary Medical Reviewer
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer
Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.