Gastritis y gastropatías (I). Gastritis infecciosas y tóxicas

Abstract

Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa of varied etiology. It may involve Helicobacter pylori infections, drug use (especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and the consumption of toxic and vascular substances. Gastritis must be distinguished from gastropathies, which are conditions of the gastric mucosa without significant inflammation. Therefore, both diseases are histological. Gastritis can be classified as acute or chronic, depending on the nature of the inflammatory infiltrate (which is usually related to a temporal factor), although there are other classifications that also consider the possible underlying causes. The diagnosis of gastritis and gastropathies usually involves performing an endoscopy with a biopsy. Some laboratory or microbiological tests, such as H. pylori detection, are useful for determining the underlying cause. The treatment of gastritis/gastropathies is aimed at the underlying cause, such as stopping consumption of irritating substances and medications to relieve symptoms.