Gastritis is a common condition among adults, but can children develop it too? Experts confirm that pediatric gastritis does occur. Let's explore the causes of gastritis in children.
Causes of Gastritis in Children
Inappropriate Medication Use
Some children frequently take medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, aspirin, and antibiotics that irritate the stomach. This can damage the gastric mucosa and trigger gastritis.
Picky Eating or Unbalanced Diet
Long-term picky eating can lead to deficiencies in various vitamins, essential minerals, and other nutrients. This can impair the normal function of the gastric antrum and, over time, may also cause gastritis.
Poor Eating Habits
For instance, parents who feed children hard-to-digest foods like fried dough sticks or fried buns for breakfast, allow cold drinks or foods on an empty stomach, or permit constant snacking throughout the day can disrupt gastric juice and acid secretion. This impairs nutrition to the gastric mucosa, eventually leading to gastritis.
Poor Hygiene Habits
Habits like not brushing teeth, failing to wash hands before meals or after using the restroom, and neglecting to trim fingernails can expose food to bacterial contamination. Infection with Helicobacter pylori can then lead to gastric antral inflammation.Long-term misuse of such drugs damages the gastric mucosa, leading to chronic gastritis and ulcers.
2. Monitor your child's health closely. Treat infections in the mouth and throat promptly to prevent swallowing bacteria-laden secretions like phlegm or nasal mucus into the stomach, which can cause chronic gastritis.
3. Avoid giving children overly acidic, spicy, or other irritating foods, as well as raw, cold, or hard-to-digest items. Encourage thorough chewing and slow eating to mix food well with saliva, aiding digestion and reducing gastric irritation. Meals should be regular, portion-controlled, and nutritionally rich, with foods high in vitamins A, B, and C. Avoid stimulating beverages like strong tea or coffee.