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Gastritis and gastropathy: the signs, the causes, the tests, and treatment
For anyone whose upper belly hurts and who has been told it might be gastritis; for anyone who tested positive for H. pylori, takes pain relievers most days, or was told an endoscopy showed an inflamed stomach lining; for anyone with anemia or low vitamin B12 whose doctor asked about the stomach; and for the people who love them. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says gastritis and gastropathy affect the stomach lining, that most people who have them have no symptoms, and that infection with H. pylori bacteria is the most common cause of gastritis. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs, bleeding in the stomach, and when it cannot wait; the kinds, who gets them, and what can come with them; the questions, endoscopy and the tests for H. pylori; treatment by the kind and the cause; and pain relievers, alcohol, iron and vitamin B12. It builds the words to say to a doctor, and prints a card to keep.
A word with a dotted line under it, like this, opens its official definition, quoted from a U.S. government glossary.
Right now
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds? Black, tarry or bloody stool with fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath? Call 911 (ours). Do not drive yourself.
- Other signs of bleeding in the stomach: black or tarry stool, blood in your stool, belly cramps or pain, or feeling tired, short of breath or light-headed? NIDDK says seek medical help right away. If your doctor cannot see you today, go to urgent care or an emergency room (ours).
- Taking an H. pylori treatment? NIDDK says take every dose exactly as prescribed; stopping early can leave bacteria that come back. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own (ours).
- It is all too much, or you are thinking of ending your life? Call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- The stomach, on this site: Peptic ulcers · Indigestion · Heartburn and acid reflux · GI bleeding · An upset stomach: find the right page.
- What can come with it, as NIDDK names it: Anemia · Celiac disease · Crohn’s disease · Diabetes · Addison’s disease · Underactive thyroid · When you or someone you love has cancer.
- Day to day: My medicines list · Symptom diary · When drinking or drugs have become a problem · Get ready for your appointment.
- Care and costs: When you can’t afford your medicine · When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When a medical bill is too much.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
An upset stomach, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for throwing up, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 17, 2026 on NIDDK’s Gastritis & Gastropathy pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition, and their Spanish versions; all were last reviewed in August 2019 and say the same things. NIDDK names kinds of medicine and three single medicines; we name only the kinds. Ours: 911 for vomiting blood or coffee grounds, or black, tarry or bloody stool with fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath; urgent care or an emergency room when your doctor cannot see you the same day; never stopping a prescribed medicine on your own; asking whether a pain reliever is an NSAID; washing hands; bringing a list of everything you take; writing down the retest date; the card; 988 when it is too much; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: medicine names, brands, doses, research studies, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.