Gastritis describes inflammation of the stomach associated with mucosal injury. The most common causes are infectious (Helicobacter pylori), medication induced (NSAIDs, aspirin), or autoimmune.
Symptoms are typically mild to moderate in severity but persistent, primarily characterized by nausea, a dull epigastric pain, and occasionally emesis and bloating.
Depending on the etiology, gastritis can occur in a wide range of the population and at any age. Suspicion for gastritis should be highest in patients with classic symptoms and a history of excessive NSAID use or heavy alcohol consumption (see alcohol use disorder). Helicobacter pylori is seen in increased prevalence in individuals of Asian descent.
Gastritis
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Synopsis

Codes
ICD10CM:
K29.70 – Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding
K29.71 – Gastritis, unspecified, with bleeding
SNOMEDCT:
4556007 – Gastritis
K29.70 – Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding
K29.71 – Gastritis, unspecified, with bleeding
SNOMEDCT:
4556007 – Gastritis
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Coronary artery disease
- Esophagitis
- Esophageal spasm (see esophageal motility disorder)
- Bowel obstruction (large bowel, small bowel)
- Gastroparesis
- Hiatal hernia
- Gastroenteritis
- Mesenteric ischemia
- Ischemic colitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease)
- Malignancy (particularly esophageal, gastric, small bowel, pancreatic)
- Biliary colic / cholelithiasis
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Tropical sprue
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Drug side effects (NSAIDs, alcohol, caffeine, antibiotics, corticosteroids, opiates, digoxin)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.
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References
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Last Reviewed:12/18/2016
Last Updated:09/16/2020
Last Updated:09/16/2020