26-Year-Old Patient: Comprehensive Review of Gastritis Diagnosis - Essay Sample

Introduction

A comprehensive review of the case study reveals that the 26-year-old patient could be suffering from gastritis. Kumar, Ashwlayan, and Verma (2018) define gastritis as a general term representing a group of numerous conditions that cause the stomach lining's inflammation. Gastritis results from a typical inflammation mainly caused by an infection with a bacterium that also causes stomach ulcers. However, any form of injury or weakness experienced on the mucus-lined barrier that prevents and protects the wall of the stomach can lead to gastritis, which in turn leads to ulcers. The injury paves the way for the digestive juices to not only damage but also inflame a person's stomach lining. Most of the patient's complaints, such as gnawing pains in the upper-middle abdomen, resemble the signs and symptoms depicted by people suffering from gastritis (Cleave, 2013; Vomero, & Colpo, 2014). Additional signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weakness, tiredness, and severe diarrhea.

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Acton (2012) adds that the continuous use of Over-the-Counter drugs (OCT) aimed at relieving pain can cause gastritis. The condition may also worsen if the patient sticks to an unhealthy diet characterized by too much alcohol and wine. In the case study, it is evident that the patient has a poor lifestyle depicted through her harmful behavior. First, she regularly takes Mylanta, which is an OCT drug aimed at solving different digestive problems. Secondly, she is experiencing stress as a result of her preparation to present the thesis. Stress is a significant risk factor for acute gastritis (Fashner & Gitu, 2015; Kumar et al., 2018). Lastly, her smoking behavior alongside the high intake of coffee contributes to the deterioration of her condition, which may culminate in peptic ulcers.

Diagnostic Tests That the Physician Should Order and the Potential Diagnoses

A physician can use different diagnostic approaches to investigate the condition affecting the patient in the case study. The first test will entail taking blood, stool, or breath sample to ascertain if the target patient tests positive for the existence of the H. pylori bacterium, which is a significant cause of the inflammation (Acton, 2012; Cleave, 2013). The second test, endoscopy, investigates the upper part of the target patient's digestive system by using a biopsy. Such biopsies can be vital in helping the physician to ascertain the existence of H. pylori in the patient's stomach inside layer. Lastly, the doctor will take an X-ray of the upper section of the alimentary canal of the patient to establish the existence of any abnormality (Kumar et al., 2018). On the other hand, the potential diagnoses for these tests are gastritis and ulcers. The inflammatory condition occurs due to the infection of H. pylori and begins with gastritis before becoming ulcers.

Options for the Patient to Relieve Her Symptoms and Appropriate Drugs

There are different options that the patient in the case study can rely on to relieve her current symptoms instead of using the OTC antacids. These options consist mainly of a different class of medications that could help address the patient's challenges in a better way than OTCs (Vomero & Colpo, 2014). First, the patient should use antibiotic drugs such as Biaxin, Amoxicillin, and Flagyl. These drugs can help in the destruction of the H. pylori bacterium, which is the leading cause of the inflammation. Secondly, she should consider taking medications that can stop the production of acid and promote the patient's healing, such as lansoprazole and Protonix (Cleave, 2013; Fashner & Gitu, 2015). Lastly, drugs that reduce the production of acid can also help her in treating the condition. Such drugs include ranitidine, nizatidine, and famotidine.

Strategies Required by the Patient to Better Manage Her Problems

There are different strategies that the patient needs to consider to manage her condition effectively. First, she should eat smaller meals but frequently. This approach is crucial in helping her to reduce the inflammatory effects of stomach acid (Kumar et al., 2018). Secondly, the patient should avoid taking irritating foods, especially those that acidic, fatty, fried, or spicy. Lastly, she should refrain from smoking and taking of wine as they can worsen her condition.

Research Question

Disease Identification

Fashner and Gitu (2015) define peptic ulcers as a group of open sources that usually form on the stomach's interior layer as well as small intestine's upper section. Stomach pain is the most conspicuous indicator of peptic ulcers, which exist in two different varieties. The first type, gastric ulcers, occurs on the stomach's interior part (Vomero & Colpo, 2014). The second type, duodenal ulcers, occurs on the interior side of the upper section of the duodenum.

Causes

According to Acton (2012), infection of the Helicobacter pylori bacterium is the most widespread cause of peptic ulcers. However, continuous use of OTC drugs such as aspirin can cause the condition. In most cases, eating spicy foods and stress do not cause cancer. However, they may worsen the patient's condition (Mayo Clinic, 2019). The prevalence of peptic ulcers is higher in older adults who exclusively rely on multiple pain relievers and people who consume them to manage osteoarthritis than children and adolescents.

Risk Factors

There are numerous risk factors for developing peptic ulcers. First, some medications such as steroids and low doses of aspirin increase the chances of suffering from the condition. Secondly, smoking puts people already infected by H. pylori at risk of developing peptic ulcers (Kumar et al., 2018). Thirdly, eating spicy foods and having untreated stress may increase the vulnerability of peptic ulcers. Lastly, drinking alcohol erodes the stomach's mucous lining and raises the amount of stomach acid secreted.

Screening and Prevention Strategies

Cleave (2013) emphasizes on the need for testing and preventing ulcers. There are multiple strategies that mortals can use to prevent the condition. For instance, people should ensure maximum protection from infections. For example, people should regularly wash their hands with detergents and eat foods thoroughly cooked to avoid the H. pylori bacterium. Besides, patients should use pain relievers with caution. For example, patients taking drugs that increase the risk of developing peptic ulcers should consider accompanying them with meals (Vomero & Colpo, 2014). These meals can help in reducing the associated effects.

Signs, Symptoms and Complications

According to Fashner and Gitu (2015), the most common signs and symptoms linked to the peptic ulcers include a burning sensation experienced in the stomach, intolerance of fatty foods, heartburn, and feelings of belching. Additional signs include difficulties with breathing, vomiting, unanticipated loss of weight, nausea, loss of appetite, and dark blood in the stool (Kumar et al., 2018). Peptic ulcers also cause severe complications such as internal bleeding leading to anemia, infection resulting in peritonitis, and obstruction of food passage via the digestive tract.

Diagnosis

There are different strategies for diagnosing peptic ulcers. The first approach entails taking a blood, stool, or breath test to determine infection with H. pylori bacterium (Cleave, 2013). Secondly, an endoscopic examination of the upper digestive system of the patient can ascertain the presence of inflammation by using a biopsy of the affected area. Doctors tend to recommend a patient to go for endoscopy under different conditions. First, patients who go for an endoscopy tend to have higher signs and symptoms associated with bleeding. Secondly, such patients experienced weight loss (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Lastly, patients suffering problems with swallowing and eating must undergo an endoscopy test. Therefore, physicians usually perform a follow-up test after treatment if the patient had ulcers in the stomach to determine the effectiveness of the initial treatment approach. This endoscopy test is a crucial requirement that doctors tend to undertake even if the patient indicates signs of improvement. Lastly, an X-ray examination of the alimentary canal can help in establishing the existence of any abnormalities (Fashner & Gitu, 2015; Mayo Clinic, 2019). This test entails taking a series of images of the patient's alimentary canal, including the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

Treatment

According to Acton (2012), there are numerous strategies used in treating peptic ulcers. First, patients can rely on antibiotics such as Biaxin, Tindamax, and Amoxil to destroy the H. pylori bacterium that causes stomach inflammation. Secondly, doctors recommend taking drugs such as Aciphex and Nexium to stop acid production and support the patient through the healing process. Thirdly, medicines such as ranitidine and nizatidine reduce the production of stomach acid are recommendable (Vomero & Colpo, 2014). Lastly, taking drugs that guard the lining of the stomach and the duodenum, such as misoprostol and Carafate, can treat peptic ulcers.

Ongoing Management/Lifestyle Changes

There are different lifestyle strategies undertaken in the management of peptic ulcers. First, people should choose a healthy diet full of fruits that provide vitamins A and C to manage the condition (Fashner & Gitu, 2015). Eating vegetables and whole grains is also crucial in managing peptic ulcers. Secondly, switching pain relievers after consulting a doctor is vital for managing peptic ulcers. Thirdly, taking foods that are rich in probiotics, such as sauerkraut and yogurt, help in reducing the impact of the condition. Fourthly, patients should avoid stress by exercising regularly (Kumar et al., 2018). Lastly, having an adequate sleep, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol intake plays a crucial role in the effective management of peptic ulcers.

References

Acton, Q. A. (2012). Peptic ulcers: advances in research and treatment. Atlanta: Scholarly Editions.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer

Cleave, T. L. (2013). Peptic ulcer: a new approach to its causation, prevention, and arrest, based on human evolution. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Fashner, J. & Gitu, A. C. (2015). Diagnosis and treatment of peptic ulcer disease and H. pylori infection. American Family Physician, 91(4), 236-242. Retrieved from: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0215/p236.pdf.

Fujinami, H., Kudo, T., Hosokawsa, A., Ogawa, K., Miyazaki, T., Nishikawa, J., Kajiura, S., Ando, T., Ueda, A., & Sugiyama, T. (2012). A study of the changes in the cause of peptic ulcer bleeding. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 4(7), 323-327. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3399011/.

Kumar, A., Ashwlayan, V., & Verma, M. (2018). Diagnostic approach & pharmacological treatment regimen of peptic ulcer disease. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Open Access Journal, 1(1), 112. Retrieved from: http://ologyjournals.com/pproaj/pproaj_00001.pdf.

Mayo Clinic (2019 October). Peptic ulcer. [Online]. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peptic-ulcer/symptoms-causes/syc-20354223.

Vomero, N. D. & Colpo, E. (2014). Nutritional care in peptic ulcer. ABCD, 27(4), 298-302. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4743227/.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer