History and Physical Examination

History

Patients with acute gastritis may experience gnawing or burning epigastric distress, occasionally accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. The pain may improve or worsen with eating.

Obtain the following information, if available:

Presence of a previous mucosal injury (eg, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, endoscopic injury caused by polypectomy, injury caused by any surgery)
History of eating raw fish
Exposure to potentially noxious drugs or chemical agents. This includes corticosteroids or other prescription medications that can cause gastritis.
Routine use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially at high doses

Physical examination

The physical examination findings are often normal, with occasional mild epigastric tenderness. The examination tends to exhibit more abnormalities as the patient develops complications in relation to gastritis.

Differential Diagnoses

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Media Gallery

Acute Gastritis. Acute gastritis with superficial erosions is observed.
Acute Gastritis. This image reveals mucosal erythema and edema consistent with acute gastritis.
Acute Gastritis. A management algorithm for acute gastritis is depicted.
Acute Gastritis. Acute gastritis treatment options according to latest American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines are shown.

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Author

Sarah El-Nakeep, MD Associate Professor, Gastroentrology and Hepatology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

BS Anand, MD Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine

BS Anand, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Vincent W Yang, MD, PhD Simons Chair of Medicine, Professor, Departments of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

Vincent W Yang, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Waqar A Qureshi, MD, FRCP(UK), FACP, FACG, FASGE Professor of Medicine, Chief of Endoscopy, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine

Waqar A Qureshi, MD, FRCP(UK), FACP, FACG, FASGE is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gwendolyn Sarver

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mohammad Wehbi, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director, Department of Gastroenterology, Emory University School of Medicine; Section Chief of Gastroenterology, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Mohammad Wehbi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kamil Obideen, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Division of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Kamil Obideen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sunil Dacha, MBBS, MD House Staff, Division of Digestive Disease, Emory University School of Medicine

Sunil Dacha, MBBS, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Nicole M Griglione, MD Fellow in Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine

Nicole M Griglione, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association and Illinois State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard H Snyder, MD Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Medicine, Norfolk General Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, East Virginia Medical School

Richard H Snyder, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.