Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastric mucosa) that can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. It may be acute or chronic and can result from infection, medications, or lifestyle factors.
From Greek 'gaster' meaning 'stomach' and '-itis' meaning 'inflammation.' The term entered medical vocabulary in the early 19th century as gastroenterology developed as a medical discipline.
Chronic gastritis caused by H. pylori bacteria affects half the world's population, yet most people don't know they have it until it causes ulcers or increases stomach cancer risk. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of 'stomach bugs' being literal bugs!
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