Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary - Assignment Example It always last for a short period. On the other hand, chronic gastritis occurs in the form of stomach inflammations that last for a long time. If it not treated, chronic gastritis may last for a lifetime (National Institute of Health (NIH), 2010). The major cause of gastritis is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection (Dai, Tang, & Zhang, 2011). H. pylori are forms of bacteria that infect the stomach walls. Their transmission mainly takes place from person to person. Contaminated water or food especially in places with poor sanitation also forms another mode of transmission (NIH, 2010). Gastritis can also be caused by the prolonged use of drugs that include ibuprofen and aspirin. When such anti-inflammatory drugs are used for some time, they trigger a gradual inflammation on the stomach lining. Some harmful chemical agents such as alcohol, radiation, and cocaine can also cause gastritis. If the gastric mucosa is exposed to harmful chemical agents, it accelerates the production of the gastric epithelium, potentially causing foveolar hyperplasia. Although most chemical-triggered gastropathies do not show any symptoms, multiple erosions and ulcers may develop, causing bleeding (NIH, 2010). Apart from H. pylori and anti-inflammatory drugs, gastritis can also be caused by autoimmune disorders, which attack healthy cells in the stomach lining. Such gastritis is usually restricted to the corpus. The autoimmune aggression targets parietal cells associated with anti-intrinsic factor antibodies and anti-parietal cell. Digestive disorders or diseases, viruses, fungi, parasites, and some bacteria other than H. pylori can also cause gastritis. For instance, duodenal reflux into the stomach may cause mucosal abrasions, which in turn trigger the inflammation of the gastric mucosa (Ruggea et al, 2011). The most prevalent symptom of gastritis is dyspepsia, which includes nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal