Work of an In-patient Department

38. Chronic Gastritis
The term "chronic gastritis" must be limited to those cases in which evi­dences of inflammation or catarrhal changes in the stomach are clear.
Chronic gastritis is known to occur as a separate or primary disease or it may be associated with other diseases, particularly chronic liver and kidney disease. In these diseases chronic impairment of the mucous membrane of the stomach is an important factor in causing the catarrhal condition.
The most important causes of chronic gastritis proved to be alcohol, inad­equate food and a bad diet regimen.
The characteristic clinical manifestations of gastritis are an increased se­cretion of mucus and a diminished secretion of acid and pepsin. In severe forms of gastritis secretion is observed to be completely reduced and even absent due to the lesion of the mucus membrane.
The most frequent symptoms of chronic gastritis are loss of appetite, slight pain and general epigastric discomfort after meals. In severe cases nausea and vomiting of mucus, particularly in the morning, are often observed. Frequently the stomach becomes moderately enlarged.
The course of the disease is chronic and the symptoms are continuous. They
may become worse from time to time if a sick person does not follow the diet
regimen strictly.