Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System, 2nd Edition
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Signs and symptoms of acute gastritis are abrupt in onset and can include (Azer & Akhondi, 2022): ● Indigestion. ● Abdominal cramps. ● Nausea. ● Vomiting. ● Bleeding can be present in the stomach. ● Hematemesis (bloody vomit) or melena (black, sticky stools) may be present. Chronic gastritis may produce signs and symptoms similar to those of acute gastritis. Or it may cause only mild dis- comfort, such as slight pain or an inabil- ity to tolerate fatty or spicy foods. More severe or long-term effects can occur, in- cluding pernicious anemia, iron deficien - cy anemia, benign growth in the stomach lining, and rarely cancer. It is important to note that patients with chronic gastritis may have no signs or symptoms (Marcus, 2019). Several diagnostic tests are used to confirm a diagnosis of gastritis (Marcus, 2019): ● Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy : This allows visualization of the stomach lining and removal of tissue samples for biopsy, which is crucial in diagnosing gastritis. ● Upper abdominal x-ray (barium swallow) : A barium-containing mixture is swallowed, illuminating malformations or abnormalities. ● Blood, stool, or breath tests for pylori : As gastritis is most often caused by H. pyloriinfection, testing for these bacteria is frequently conducted to determine a treatment course.
Treatment of gastritis focuses on elim- inating the causes of gastritis (Marcus, 2019): ● Antibiotics are administered to treat bacterial gastritis. ● Histamine-2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors may be provided to block gastric secretions. ● Over-the-counter antacids may be administered to buffer the effects of the acidity of gastric secretions. | NURSING CONSIDERATION With severe blood loss, blood re- placement may be necessary. Main - taining hemodynamic stability should remain a top priority for nurses treat- ing patients with acute bleeding. Frequent assessments for changes in blood pressure, tachycardia, changes in the level of consciousness, and di- minished capillary refill should be con - ducted. Nurses should also observe for transfusion reactions. Lifestyle changes may also help reduce the signs and symptoms of gastritis and include the following: ● Diet : Patients should avoid foods that trigger or exacerbate signs and symptoms, such as fatty or spicy foods. Research has shown that diet and nutrition do not play as much of a role in the prevention or cause of gastritis as previously believed (NIDDK, 2019b). ● Alcohol intake : Patients should limit or avoid alcohol, which can trigger or exacerbate gastritis signs and symptoms (Azer & Akhondi, 2022). ● Tobacco use : Smoking and oral use of tobacco (chewing tobacco or snuff) have been associated with gastritis (Azer & Akhondi, 2022).
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