NCM 116a | LECTURE: CARE OF CLIENTS WITH PROBLEMS IN NUTRITION, GASTROINTESTINAL,
AND ENDOCRINE
SECOND SEMESTER | MIDTERMS: LEARNING MODULE 6
GASTRITIS
GASTRITIS
● Gastritis is a general term for a group of
conditions with one thing in common.
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
The inflammation of gastritis is most often
the result of infection with the same
bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers
or the regular use of certain pain relievers.
Drinking too much alcohol also can contribute
to gastritis.
● Caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
infection
● Beginning stage of ulcer
● It is not possible that a patient has ulcer but
no gastritis
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
● Gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion)
in the upper abdomen that may become either
worse or better with eating
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● A feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen
after eating
CAUSES
● Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach
lining. Weaknesses or injury to the mucus-
lined barrier that protects the stomach wall
allows digestive juices to damage and inflame
the stomach lining. A number of diseases and
conditions can increase the risk of gastritis,
including inflammatory conditions, such as
Crohn's disease.
○ Weakness of gastric mucosa
○ Infection (H. pylori)
○ Alcohol intake
RISK FACTORS
● Bacterial infection (H. Pylori)
● Regular use of pain relievers (gastric irritants)
● Older age (muscles are weakened)
● Excessive alcohol use
● Stress (increased acid production due to
excessive alcohol use)
● Cancer treatment (gastric irritants)
● The body attacking cells in the stomach
● Other diseases and conditions
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
● Tests for H. pylori. The doctor may
recommend tests — such as a stool test or
breath test — to determine whether a patient
has the bacterium H. pylori. Which type of test
the patient should undergo depends on your
situation. Not all ulcers are caused by H.
Pylori.
● For the breath test, patients drink a small
glass of clear, tasteless liquid that contains
radioactive carbon. H. pylori bacteria break
down the test liquid in the stomach. Later, the
patient will blow into a bag, which is then
sealed. If the patient is infected with H. pylori,
the patient’s breath sample will contain the
radioactive carbon.
● Endoscopy
● X-ray of the upper digestive system
(Esophagram)
TREATMENT
GASTRITIS | BSN 3E
● Medications used to treat gastritis include:
○ Antibiotic medications to kill H. pylori.
● Medications that block acid production and
promote healing.
● Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors
(Metronidazole), particularly at high doses,
may increase the patient’s risk of hip, wrist
and spine fractures.
○ PPI inhibits gastric acid, over dose of this
medication may lead to decreased
stomach acid that can cause slow
digestion and malabsorption which can
lead to decreased calcium (ask the doctor
for calcium supplementation)
○ Hypochlorhydria is a deficiency of
stomach acid. Caused by long term use of
PPI.
○ Instruct patients to have small frequent
feeding to prevent acid production.
● Medications to reduce acid production.
○ Acid blockers — also called histamine (H-
2) blockers — reduce the amount of acid
released into the patient’s digestive tract,
which relieves gastritis pain and
encourages healing. Available by
prescription or over the counter, acid
blockers include famotidine (Pepcid),
cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and nizatidine
(Axid AR).
● Medications that neutralize stomach acid.
The doctor may include an antacid in the
patient's drug regimen.
○ Antacids neutralize existing stomach acid
and can provide rapid pain relief.
○ Side effects can include constipation or
diarrhea, depending on the main
ingredients. These help with immediate
symptom relief but are generally not used
as a primary treatment. Proton pump
inhibitors and acid blockers are more
effective and have fewer side effects.

GASTRITIS | BSN 3E