Question
My younger brother started working in a factory far away at a young age. Due to the poor food in the factory and his habit of skipping breakfast to save money, along with overtime work causing stomach pain, he was diagnosed with acute gastritis yesterday. How can acute gastritis be differentiated and diagnosed?
Answer
The differentiation and diagnosis of acute gastritis include asking whether there has been ingestion of strong acids (such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid), strong bases (such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide), or other chemicals, which may cause digestive tract burns, leading to severe pain in the mouth, throat, behind the sternum, and upper abdomen. This is accompanied by symptoms such as swallowing pain, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, there may be vomiting of blood, with purulent blood-streaked mucosal fragments, and possibly symptoms of dehydration, shock, or esophageal and gastric perforation.