4. Gastritis
Gastritis is a condition that causes the lining of the stomach and intestines to become inflamed, swollen, and sore. It can come on quickly and last for a short time or may start out as discomfort and turn to serious pain that lasts for several hours and even days.
There are many things that can cause gastritis including bacterial infections such as with Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Other known causes include Crohn’s disease, autoimmune diseases, sarcoidosis, allergies, and viruses in people with weakened immune systems. Once the cause of the gastritis is found, it can be treated and symptoms usually subside quickly.
Many people will experience bouts of gastritis in their life and won’t know the cause. Only when the pain is severe or the problem becomes chronic do people seek medical attention and get a proper diagnosis. A diet change and over the counter medications may also help reduce the severity of symptoms.