What Is Pangastritis?
Pangastritis is a common disease that involves the digestive tract. It is a type of gastritis that affects the entire stomach walls. In this condition, the antral and oxyntic mucosa of the antrum (lower part of the stomach) and the fundus (upper part of the stomach) are affected.
It is a chronic (long-standing) type of gastritis. Some causative factors like alcohol and smoking damage the stomach’s lining, causing inflammation and erosion.
The difference between gastritis and pangastritis is that gastritis involves only the stomach lining. According to the severity of inflammation, it is categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Studies have shown that half of the population will have this disease.
What Are the Causes Of Pangastritis?
- Medicine: Chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen, Naproxen sodium, and corticosteroids can cause pangastritis. These painkillers diminish the number of factors that are responsible for the protection of the stomach’s lining.
- Excessive Alcohol Intake: In the case of chronic drinkers, the alcohol irritates and erodes the stomach’s lining, causing damage.
- Bacterial Infection: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria is main contributing factor.
- Autoimmune Disease: In this condition, the body produces some products to destroy the stomach’s linings.
- Stress: During this period, the body secretes more acetylcholine and histamine. It leads to a change in gastric acid secretion leading to pangastritis.
- Old Age: When age progresses, the thinning of the stomach lining also occurs. Old-aged people are more prone to H-pylori infections and autoimmune diseases when compared to a younger age.
- Stomach Infections: Bacterial infection that affects the digestive tract is a contributing factor.
- Other Disease Conditions: HIV/AIDS, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and sarcoidosis are contributing factors.
- Chemotherapy: Treatment for cancer can cause gastritis.
- Cocaine Abuse: Cocaine is a drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine affects the neural pathways in the brain. Overuse of cocaine leads to mental and physical dependence on the drug.
- Viral infections: Infections caused by Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus will cause a weakening of immunity.
- Bile reflux: Backflow of bile into the stomach instead of moving into the intestine.
What Are the Symptoms of Pangastritis?
- A throbbing or burning pain present on the upper part of the stomach.
- Loss of appetite.
- Heartburn.
- Bloating (tight, full, and painful stomach).
- Nausea.
- Vomiting or an urge to vomit.
- Vomiting blood.
- Blood in stool.
- Frequent passing of gas.
- Hiccups.
- Headache and weakness.
- Losing weight.
- Stomach ulcer.
Immediate consultation with the healthcare provider is needed if blood is found in the stool.
How to Diagnose Pangastritis?
If the patient experiences any of the above symptoms, it is always best to visit a healthcare provider. The health care provider will discuss the main complaint, symptoms, onset, aggravating, and relieving factors. The doctor will also ask for medical history, concurrent medication, and family history. The history and clinical examination will help the doctor understand the disease. For confirmation, certain tests are performed.
- Breath Test: This test is to find the presence of H pylori bacteria. In this case, the patient is required to swallow a capsule or a liquid that contains urea. Urea is a radioactive material. After that, a swallowed capsule or liquid is exhaled back into the bag. H. Pylori bacteria can convert urea into carbon dioxide. The presence of H pylori bacteria is considered when there is an increase in carbon dioxide.
- Blood Test: Antibody titer for H pylori bacteria is checked by this method at hemoglobin level. In the case of pangastritis, the mucosa gets damaged, which prevents the absorption of nutrients from food leading to low hemoglobin count and anemia.
- Stool Test: It is used to find blood in stool and the H. pylori bacteria.
- Endoscopy: During this procedure, the doctor passes a flexible tube with a camera at the tip, which is known as an endoscope. The tube passes through the esophagus, stomach, and intestine. A doctor can view the changes that are present based on the history given by the patient. Small tissue scraping is taken to find any inflammatory changes. The scraped tissue is sent for biopsy to identify H. pylori bacteria.
- Upper Gastrointestinal Examination: In this procedure, a patient is asked to swallow a chalky substance called barium. The liquid gets coated over the stomach lining, which provides detailed X-ray imaging.
All the above procedures are not done together. Depending on the condition and cause of the disease, any of the above diagnostic procedures are done.
What Are the Treatment Modalities for Pangastritis?
The treatment plan varies depending on the cause of pangastritis.
1) Treatment for H Pylori Infection: If the cause is H pylori, it should be treated first. It is done according to the guidelines provided by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and will take ten to 14 days of treatment.
- Antibiotics: It is given to treat bacterial infections. Usually, Amoxicillin (Augmentin, Amoxil) and Clarithromycin (Biaxin XL) or Metronidazole (Flagyl) is used to kill the bacteria. It is usually given for 7 to 14 days. After course completion, the doctor may ask to do the test to know whether the H-pylori bacteria is destroyed.
- Blockage of Acid Production: Medications like proton pump inhibitors will stop acid production by acting on the cell which produces acids. The drugs like Omeprazole and Pantoprazole are examples. Long-term use is not recommended due to increased risk of spine or hip fractures. Sometimes, calcium supplements are to be provided if in need.
- Reduction of Acid Produced: Histamine blockers (H2 blockers) reduce acid produced in the digestive tract by which gastric pain is relieved. Drugs like Famotidine and Cimetidine help to reduce the acid produced.
Proton pump inhibitors and acid blockers are more effective than antacids. These have fewer side effects. Antacids are given to patients and help to neutralize the acid produced. These antacids have side effects like diarrhea and constipation. Symptoms get relieved at a faster rate when compared to other drugs, but it is not the primary choice of treatment.
2) Dietary Changes: Some dietary changes are made for patients which have pangastritis. Dietary changes help reduce stomach lining irritation. The dietary changes to be made include:
- Food that is rich in fiber. It includes vegetables and grains.
- Food that has low-fat content.
- Food rich in high proteins
- Avoid fried food items.
- Avoid overly acidic food substances.
- Avoid having spicy food substances.
- Avoid caffeine in the daily routine. It can be mainly achieved by reducing coffee intake.
- Avoid drinking carbonated drinks, which will cause problems to the stomach lining.
3) Lifestyle Modification: Avoid using alcohol. It irritates the stomach mucosa, causing irritation and, thereby, acid production. Avoid smoking and tobacco chewing.
4) Use of Health Supplements: Supplement intake has shown a significant beneficial impact on pangastritis.
- Glutamine: The supplements which contain glutamine help in a protective role to prevent mucosal damage. Glutamine is an aminoacid.
- Probiotic Therapy: Medicine with probiotic contents helps give good results for gastric inflammation. The researchers have considered it a very good method to relieve pangastritis.
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory effect of omega three fatty acids has a significant impact. These substances help reduce inflammation and damage caused by pangastritis.
- Antioxidants: It helps protect the body from DNA-damaging oxidative stress. Antioxidants help to reduce the inflammation of the mucosa.
5) Home Remedies: Crushed ginger and garlic help to reduce the symptoms caused by pangastritis.
What Is the Prognosis Of Pangastritis?
It is a treatable type of disease condition. Early detection and treatment help in good results and good prognosis. A follow-up should always be made to ensure the eradication of H pylori bacteria. Strictly adhering to dietary plans, medications, lifestyle modification, and health supplements will bring about good results and a better prognosis.
What Are the Complications?
Early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up will provide good results without causing any complications. The main complication associated with pangastritis is cancer. The causative factor of H Pylori and other factors like genetics, lifestyle, diet, and smoking contribute to this. It does not mean that everyone with this condition will have cancer. There is a tendency to develop cancer if not treated properly.
How to Prevent Pangastritis?
Good and healthy lifestyle habits will help to prevent pangastritis. Good eating habits along with cessation of habits will help to prevent pangastritis. A follow-up with the doctor should be made to ensure no other complications are developed. Pangastritis is a treatable condition with good treatment modalities. Prevention is always better than treating the disease.
Conclusion
Pangastritis is a common type of disease seen in the human population. It does not pose any life threatening conditions if it is treated properly. A good lifestyle modification, dietary changes and intake health supplements can bring about good changes do the disease state.
