gastritis

WHAT IS GASTRITIS?

Gastritis in children is the inflammation of the mucosal protective lining of the child’s stomach and happens when the gastric lining either becomes thin or damaged and comes in contact with hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach.

WHAT CAUSES GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN?

Gastritis, in children, could be caused by any of the following reasons:

• Eating spicy foods
• Prolonged use of NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs) – those medicines that are widely used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and bring down high temperature and are often used to relive symptoms of headaches, colds, flu and other causes of long-term pain.
• Infection with bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
• A major surgery
• Traumatic injury or burns
• A severe infection
• Extreme psychological stress
• Certain diseases, for example, megaloblastic anaemia (anaemia that occurs from deficiency of Vitamin B-12) and certain autoimmune disorders

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GASTRITIS?

Gastritis affects every child differently and can cause symptoms that range in severity from mild and occasional to sometimes severe and persistent. Some common symptoms of Gastritis are the following:

• Belching, and sometimes hiccups
• Nausea & vomiting
• Upset stomach and/ or pain in the stomach
• Abdominal bleeding
• Feeling of burning in the stomach
• Loss of appetite
• Blood in the vomit or stool which usually an indication that the stomach lining may be bleeding

Quite often, the symptoms of Gastritis resemble some other medical condition or problem it is always best to consult a pediatric gastroenterologist.

WHAT, YOU AS A MOTHER, MUST KNOW ABOUT GASTRITIS?

The most common perception about Gastritis is because of the ‘gas’ in Gastritis. You, as a mother, should know that Gastritis has nothing to do with flatulence. Many mothers also confuse gastritis with acid reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Disease – a more severe form of acid reflux). GERD is related to the irritation in the esophagus (esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach), gastritis is related to irritation in the stomach.

While the treatment for Gastritis and GERD are often quite similar, treatment for Gastritis may vary depending on the cause.

HOW IS GASTRITIS DIAGNOSED?

The team at PedsGastroDelhi.com offers comprehensive testing for the symptoms of gastritis and ranges from blood work to identify infections and stool studies to check for blood or bacteria. The pediatric gastroenterologist might also use a minimally invasive endoscopy procedure to evaluate a child’s upper digestive system and identify inflammation or obstructions that is causing gastritis.

HOW IS GASTRITIS TREATED?

The pediatric gastroenterologist decides on the treatment plan basis the severity of symptoms and your child’s medical history. The plan may include medications that reduce and prevent inflammation and relieve stomach pain. Apart from these medications, a course of antibiotics may also be prescribed to treat the infection if any.

The Pediatric Gastroenterologist will recommend some lifestyle and dietary changes so as to prevent certain additional symptoms and complications.