Gastritis is no single disease; rather, it is a group of disorders that is manifested by inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. This inflammation is triggered by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) which also causes stomach ulcers as well. Apart from this main cause, the other causes that contribute to gastritis include injury, excessive alcohol consumption, and the use of a particular group of painkillers. Here are some of the common symptoms that are seen in gastritis –

Diagnosis of Gastritis: The Early Symptoms

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• irresistible upper abdominal pain

• The feeling of upper abdominal fullness after food 

Untreated gastritis results in stomach ulcers and haemorrhage within the stomach and, in some rare instances, can result in stomach cancers. So, you can very well see that an accurate diagnosis of gastritis is extremely vital so that immediate medical intervention can be done. The diagnosis of the said disease can be done based on physical examinations and early symptoms as experienced by individual patients. But for accurate diagnosis, certain tests are done. We, Medguard, as one of the best medical equipment suppliers, provide world-class instruments to conduct these tests in the laboratories. 

History of Present Illness

Any history of surgical intervention in the gastrointestinal area or any autoimmune condition like type 1 diabetes and hypoparathyroidism can increase the risk of gastritis. Repeated use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs or frequent alcohol intake can result in gastritis. NSAIDs like corticosteroids or anticoagulants can trigger stomach haemorrhages or ulcer formation in patients older than 60 years. 

Tests to Diagnose the Disease 

The stage of the disease determines the type of tests that the patient will require. Stool and breath tests determine the presence of H. pylori, the prime reason behind the development of gastritis. 

• Breath Test

For the breath test, the patient drinks a small glass of clear, tasteless test liquid containing radioactive carbon. The test liquid is broken down by H. pylori in the stomach. Later on, the patient is asked to blow into a bag, which is then sealed off. If there is an H. pylori infection in the patient’s system, then the breath sample detects that.

• Endoscopy

When the tests negate the presence of H. pylori and the use of NSAID or alcohol is suspected as the cause of gastritis, the patient is asked to stop the NSAIDs and to stop drinking altogether. Therapies are prescribed for symptom relief. If the patient gets no relief, then gastroscopy is considered the cause.

This is another test that detects gastritis caused by H. pylori. Here, a thin, flexible scope with a tiny camera is passed down the throat to examine the digestive system of the patient. The scope detects any kind of inflammation within the stomach. If anything suspicious is detected, then the doctor does a biopsy of the area. The biopsy detects the presence of H. pylori in the stomach lining and is treated accordingly. To carry out the biopsies, we from Medguard, one of the renowned medical equipment suppliers, provide the best biopsy equipment, like the Kai Biopsy Punch.   

The mucosal biopsy sample is placed on a reaction strip or agar gel containing urea, which is a pH indicator and a buffer. The presence of H. pylori converts the urea to ammonia and bicarbonate, resulting in a colour change in the medium. This test is almost 100% accurate, provided the patient is not on a proton pump inhibitor, antibiotic, or acute GI bleed.

• Upper Digestive System X-Ray

With the help of an x-ray imaging, brought from the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine is done to detect any unusual changes in these areas. A barium swallow test is done where the barium-containing liquid forms a coating over the digestive tract, thereby making the ulcer visible. 

• Blood Tests

The causes or signs of complications are detected through the blood tests from a blood sample of the patient. 

• Stool Tests

The stool test is done to check for H. pylori infection and for blood contents in your stool, which means bleeding in the stomach.

Few Other Diagnostic Tests 

• Tests to Detect Autoimmune Gastritis

The tests to assess gastritis caused by an autoimmune condition consist of –

1. Assessment of the serum vitamin B12 and autoantibody levels
2. Gastroscopy is prescribed for patients suffering from pernicious anaemia to detect any gastric cancer. A full blood count is conducted to check for anemia.

• Tests for Phlegmonous Gastritis

There are many causes behind phlegmonous gastritis in a patient, namely peptic ulcer, systemic infection, surgery, cancer, or severe stress-related issues. The tests ordered in this case are –

1. Plain upper GI series or a 
2. Computed tomography. 
3. A nasogastric drainage test is also carried out to assimilate gastric contents and perform a culture.

All these tests need the best quality medical equipment. For that, we suggest you go through these essential pointers before you decide on purchasing any of them.