Gastritis is usually caused by which of the following?

Gastritis is usually caused by which of the following?

• A. Helicobacter pylori infection
• B. Alcohol toxicity
• C. Autoimmune destruction of parietal cells
• D. Stress-related mucosal disease

Answer: (A)

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it is most often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This bacterium colonizes the stomach’s mucous layer and triggers a chronic inflammatory response. It survives the acidic environment by producing urease, which neutralizes acidity near the bacteria, allowing persistent infection. Its virulence factors, such as CagA and VacA, promote mucosal injury and inflammation, leading to chronic gastritis and increasing the risk of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Other causes like heavy alcohol use can irritate the stomach but are less commonly the primary reason for gastritis; autoimmune destruction of parietal cells causes a specific autoimmune form of gastritis, and stress-related mucosal disease occurs mainly in critically ill patients. Thus, the usual culprit is Helicobacter pylori infection.

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it is most often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This bacterium colonizes the stomach’s mucous layer and triggers a chronic inflammatory response. It survives the acidic environment by producing urease, which neutralizes acidity near the bacteria, allowing persistent infection. Its virulence factors, such as CagA and VacA, promote mucosal injury and inflammation, leading to chronic gastritis and increasing the risk of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Other causes like heavy alcohol use can irritate the stomach but are less commonly the primary reason for gastritis; autoimmune destruction of parietal cells causes a specific autoimmune form of gastritis, and stress-related mucosal disease occurs mainly in critically ill patients. Thus, the usual culprit is Helicobacter pylori infection.