Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Alcohol ingestion may lead to an acute hemorrhagic or erosive gastritis through direct irritation of the gastric mucosa. Alcohol also leads to increased gastrin production and decreased pepsin secretion,which can cause gastric irritation. Endoscopy performed on healthy adults after direct ingestion of alcohol shows gastric hyperemia and erosions. Although alcohol-related gastritis most often is asymptomatic, it also may present with epigastric or upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and massive or occult gastrointestinal bleeding. In adults, alcohol use is a common cause of erosive gastritis, but nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is the most common cause. The incidence of alcoholic gastritis has not been identified in children and adolescents.
Chronic antral inflammation frequently is observed in adult alcoholics. However, it is not clear whether this condition is a result of alcohol use, Helicobacter pylori, or their interaction. One study examined alcoholic patients who had...
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