Chronic Superficial Gastritis: Common Symptoms and Clinical Manifestations

Chronic superficial gastritis is a prevalent gastric mucosal lesion characterized by inflammation confined to the superficial layer of the gastric wall. The condition is often triggered by Helicobacter pylori infection, prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), unhealthy dietary habits, or psychological stress. While some patients remain asymptomatic, many experience a range of upper gastrointestinal discomforts.

The most frequently reported symptoms include upper abdominal pain or discomfort, which may present as a dull ache or burning sensation. Patients often describe a feeling of fullness or distension after meals, even with small portions. Nausea, occasional vomiting, and acid reflux are also common. Some individuals may experience belching or early satiety, which can lead to reduced food intake and unintentional weight loss over time.

In certain cases, symptoms may worsen during fasting or at night, disrupting sleep and daily activities. Despite the chronic nature of the condition, the severity of symptoms can fluctuate, with periods of remission and exacerbation. It is important to note that the presence and intensity of symptoms do not always correlate with the extent of mucosal inflammation observed during endoscopy.

Symptom Category	Common Manifestations
Abdominal Discomfort	Upper abdominal pain, burning sensation, dull ache
Digestive Issues	Postprandial fullness, early satiety, belching, acid reflux
Nausea & Vomiting	Mild to moderate nausea, occasional vomiting
Appetite Changes	Loss of appetite, feeling full quickly
Timing of Symptoms	May worsen when fasting or at night

Symptoms of Duodenal Ulcer

A duodenal ulcer typically presents with rhythmic, gnawing or burning epigastric pain that appears 2–3 h after meals or during the night and is promptly relieved by food, milk or antacids. Many patients also note early satiety, bloating, nausea and occasional retching; weight loss may occur because pain discourages eating. Pain can radiate to the back, and if an ulcer penetrates posteriorly it may cause continuous, non-relenting backache. Complications include sudden, severe, diffuse abdominal pain with board-like rigidity (perforation) or passage of black, tarry stools (bleeding). Alarm features—persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, anaemia, or recent onset of progressive symptoms—require urgent evaluation to exclude malignancy.

Symptom group	Typical features	Key clues
Epigastric pain	Burning/gnawing, 2–3 h post-prandial or nocturnal, relieved by food/antacid	Rhythmic pattern
Dyspepsia	Early satiety, bloating, nausea	Meal-related
Weight loss	Reduced intake due to anticipated pain	Pain-food cycle
Back pain	Deep, continuous if posterior penetration	Non-relenting
Alarm signs	Vomiting, melena, anaemia, progressive symptoms	Complication/malignancy risk

What Are the Symptoms of Dysentery

Bacterial dysentery presents with rapid-onset colonic invasion, toxin damage and inflammatory exudate:

Abdominal pain: mostly left-lower quadrant, colicky, worse before defecation, briefly relieved after
Diarrhea: starts watery, quickly becomes mucopurulent and bloody; >10 stools/day, small volume
Tenesmus: frequent urge, scanty difficult evacuation, strong anal bearing-down
Fever: 38–40 °C with chills; toxic type may cause sudden convulsions
Nausea/vomiting: more common in children; bilious in severe cases
Mucopurulent bloody stool: dark or bright red, sticky, fishy odor
Toxic type (ages 2–7): high fever, convulsions, altered consciousness or shock before diarrhea appears

Seek care promptly if diarrhea >1 day with blood, tenesmus or high fever to prevent dehydration and toxic complications.

Symptom group	Typical features	Frequency
Abdominal pain	Left-lower colicky, post-defecation relief	Universal
Diarrhea	Watery→bloody mucus, >10/day	Universal
Tenesmus	Urgent, scanty, straining	Universal
Fever	38–40 °C, chills	Common
Nausea/vomiting	Gastric content, kids>adults	Common
Toxic type	High fever, convulsions, shock	Rare but critical

What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer is usually asymptomatic in early stages and often discovered incidentally. As the tumor enlarges or invades adjacent structures, the following may develop:

Painless neck lump
Most common first sign—unilateral, firm, poorly mobile on swallowing, slowly but steadily enlarging .
Hoarseness
Persistent and unrelenting hoarseness due to recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion and vocal-cord palsy .
Dysphagia
Compression or invasion of the oesophageal entrance causes globus sensation and progressive difficulty swallowing solids .
Dyspnoea
Tracheal compression or intraluminal growth produces inspiratory stridor and orthopnoea that worsen when lying flat .
Cervical lymph-node swelling
Firm, matted nodes in the lateral neck often indicate regional metastasis .
Throat or referred ear pain
Late-stage perineural invasion leads to persistent sore throat or ipsilateral otalgia .
Less common features
Medullary carcinoma may secrete bioactive substances causing diarrhoea and flushing; anaplastic cancer presents with rapidly enlarging mass and severe airway compromise .

Any neck lump that is hard, progressively enlarging and fixed, or symptoms of hoarseness or dysphagia lasting >2 weeks, warrants urgent ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration.

Symptom	Typical Features	Implication
Neck lump	Painless, firm, moves poorly on swallowing	Primary tumor
Hoarseness	Persistent, no improvement with rest	Recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion
Dysphagia	Gradual, starts with solids	Oesophageal compression
Dyspnoea	Inspiratory stridor, worsens supine	Tracheal involvement
Lateral neck nodes	Hard, matted, fixed	Regional metastasis
Pain	Throat or referred otalgia	Advanced disease
Systemic (medullary)	Diarrhoea, flushing	Hormone secretion

What Are the Symptoms of Acute Appendicitis?

Acute appendicitis results from luminal obstruction followed by bacterial overgrowth and rapid inflammation. Cardinal features in chronological order are:

Migratory pain
Vague periumbilical or upper-abdominal discomfort migrates to the right lower quadrant within 4–6 h and intensifies with movement, coughing or palpation.
Gastro-intestinal upset
Anorexia, nausea and often vomiting; loose stools or constipation may mislead toward gastroenteritis.
Fever
Low-grade 37–38 °C early, rising >38.5 °C as inflammation advances; elderly or immunocompromised patients may remain afebrile.
Peritoneal signs
Maximal tenderness at McBurney point, rebound pain, guarding and hypo-active bowel sounds indicate parietal peritoneal irritation.
Systemic toxicity
Tachycardia, malaise, thirst; high fever with pallor or hypotension suggests gangrene or perforation with sepsis.
Special populations
Pregnancy displaces the appendix upward, shifting pain to the right upper quadrant; infants present with irritability, refusal to feed and high fever.

Perforation risk rises sharply after 48 h; any sustained abdominal pain with fixed right-lower-quadrant tenderness warrants urgent evaluation.

Feature	Typical Findings
Pain onset	Periumbilical → right lower quadrant
Quality	Dull early, later sharp, worsened by cough
GI symptoms	Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, ± diarrhea
Fever	Low → moderate, may exceed 38.5 °C
Peritoneal signs	Tenderness, rebound, guarding at McBurney
Alarm signs	High fever, hypotension, diffuse pain (perforation)
Imaging	US/CT: enlarged appendix >6 mm

What Are the Symptoms of Lymphadenitis?

Lymphadenitis is an inflammatory condition of lymph nodes caused by bacterial, viral, or other pathogens, usually secondary to infections of the skin, mouth, or respiratory tract. Common manifestations include:

Enlarged lymph nodes
Nodes range from pea- to bean-sized or larger, feel firm or rubbery, and are well-defined in acute stages; chronic nodes may be slightly adherent .
Pain and tenderness
Most prominent in acute phase; palpation, head turning, arm lifting, or chewing can aggravate discomfort .
Skin changes
Overlying skin becomes red, warm, and edematous; severe cases mimic cellulitis .
Fluctuation and abscess formation
Central necrosis liquefies, producing a fluid-filled cavity with throbbing pain .
Fever and systemic toxicity
Temperature often >38 °C with chills, malaise, and poor appetite; young children may develop febrile convulsions .
Spontaneous rupture and fistula
Untreated abscesses may burst, creating chronic sinuses that discharge pus and heal slowly .
Chronic lymphadenitis features
Nodes are usually non-tender, hard, mobile, and persist for months to years, flaring after minor infections .
Signs of primary infection
Gingival swelling with dental sources, sore throat with tonsillitis, or crusted skin wounds pointing to the portal of entry .

Persistent, hard, fixed nodes accompanied by night sweats or weight loss warrant biopsy to exclude lymphoma or metastasis.

Key Feature	Acute Lymphadenitis	Chronic Lymphadenitis
Node size	1–3 cm, may enlarge rapidly	0.5–2 cm, persistent
Pain	Moderate–severe, tender	Minimal or absent
Skin	Red, warm, edematous	Normal color
Abscess	Common, with fluctuation	Rare
Fever	High >38 °C, chills	Low-grade or absent
Course	Days to weeks	Months to years
Complication	Rupture, fistula, sepsis	Scarring, cosmetic concern

What Are the Symptoms of Peritonitis?

Peritonitis is an acute inflammation of the peritoneum triggered by bacterial, chemical or physical insults. It progresses rapidly and may become life-threatening within hours. Key manifestations include:

Abdominal pain
The earliest and most prominent symptom—persistent, sharp, and diffuse; movement, coughing or palpation intensifies the discomfort.
Peritoneal signs
Tenderness, rebound pain and guarding give the abdomen a board-like rigidity, reflecting parietal peritoneal irritation.
Nausea & vomiting
Initially reflex, later bilious or feculent if paralytic ileus supervenes.
Fever & rigors
Temperature often >38 °C with chills as systemic inflammation ignites.
Abdominal distension
Gas and fluid accumulate when peristalsis ceases, sometimes compromising respiration.
Cessation of flatus & stool
Absent bowel sounds confirm adynamic ileus.
Dehydration & thirst
Fluid loss from vomiting, third-spacing and fever produces dry mucosa and oliguria.
Systemic toxicity & shock
Endotoxaemia may lead to septic shock: pallor, cold clammy extremities, tachycardia, hypotension, confusion, culminating in multi-organ failure.
Dialysis-fluid changes (in CAPD patients)
Cloudy effluent with fibrin flecks or strands and catheter-site erythema.

Because fulminant deterioration is common, any patient with sudden severe abdominal pain plus fever, guarding or haemodynamic instability requires immediate evaluation and empiric therapy.

Key Aspect	Typical Findings
Pain onset	Sudden, severe, continuous, worsened by motion
Physical signs	Tenderness, rebound, board-like rigidity
GI function	Nausea, vomiting, absent flatus/stool, silent abdomen
Temperature	≥38 °C, often with chills
Circulatory	Tachycardia, hypotension → septic shock
Respiratory	Shallow breathing due to pain/diaphragmatic splinting
Urinary output	Oliguria from hypovolaemia or sepsis
Emergency marker	Combination of acute abdomen + fever/shock mandates urgent laparotomy/IV antibiotics

What Are the Symptoms of Retroperitoneal Hematoma?

The clinical presentation of retroperitoneal hematoma is often nonspecific. Mild cases may show only vague discomfort, while severe cases can quickly progress to hemorrhagic shock. Main manifestations include:

Abdominal pain – the most frequent symptom, usually steady and dull, located in the upper, lower or flank abdomen and sometimes radiating to the back .
Low-back pain – caused by direct compression or irritation of lumbar muscles and nerves .
Abdominal distension & decreased bowel sounds – due to paralytic ileus secondary to hematoma compression or irritation .
Hypovolemia & shock – the retroperitoneal space can conceal >2 L of blood; patients may suddenly develop pallor, tachycardia, hypotension and even collapse .
Nerve compression – femoral neuropathy with anterior thigh pain, numbness or weakness when the hematoma extends into the iliac fossa .
Urinary symptoms – hematuria, dysuria or acute urinary retention if the kidneys, ureters or bladder are involved .
Peritoneal irritation signs – muscular guarding, rebound tenderness and absent bowel sounds when the hematoma is large or ruptures into the peritoneal cavity .
Late complications – infection, multiple organ dysfunction or re-bleeding may appear if the hematoma is not promptly managed .

Because of this variability, any patient with lumbar-abdominal trauma, pelvic/spinal fracture, persistent abdominal-flank pain, unexplained shock or paralytic ileus should be evaluated for retroperitoneal hematoma, preferably by emergency CT.

Aspect	Key Points
Most common symptom	Abdominal pain (46–68 %)
Typical location	Flank, lower abdomen, back
Alarm signs	Tachycardia, hypotension, pale skin, oliguria
Neurological sign	Femoral nerve palsy (thigh pain/weakness)
Imaging of choice	Contrast-enhanced CT
Major risk	Occult hemorrhagic shock, mortality 35–42 %

What Are the Symptoms of Fibroma?

Fibromas are benign tumors composed of fibrous connective tissue. Their symptoms depend on location and size, but most present as slow-growing, painless, firm nodules.

Dermatofibroma typically measures 0.5–1.5 cm, reddish-brown, smooth or rough, slightly tender when pressed; lateral compression produces a central dimple. Lesions favor extremities.

Gingival fibromatosis presents as diffuse, symmetric gingival hyperplasia with firm consistency, covering crowns, causing tooth displacement, eruption delay and masticatory dysfunction.

Deep soft-tissue fibromas manifest as ill-defined firm masses; nerve or joint involvement may produce pain, numbness, or limited motion.

Neurofibroma lies within or under skin, soft, skin-colored or pink, sometimes painful or paresthetic; plexiform variants enlarge and alter appearance.

Non-ossifying fibroma arises in bone, causing dull pain, pathologic fracture, firm swelling, and adjacent joint restriction.

Symptom	Description
Skin nodule	Small, firm, reddish-brown, sometimes tender
Gingival overgrowth	Diffuse, firm, covers teeth, distorts bite
Deep mass	Ill-defined, hard, may limit motion or compress nerves
Bone lesion	Local pain, fracture risk, swelling near joint

What Are the Symptoms of Intestinal Obstruction?

The classic picture of intestinal obstruction is “pain, distension, vomiting, and absence of stool/gas.”

Abdominal pain: forceful peristalsis in the proximal bowel causes colicky pain every 5–15 min; persistent severe pain suggests ischemia or perforation.

Distension: gas and fluid accumulate proximal to the blockage, inflating the abdomen; low obstructions produce greater swelling and visible peristaltic waves.

Vomiting: high obstructions provoke early, frequent emesis—first gastric, then bilious or feculent; low obstructions delay vomiting.

Obstipation: complete obstruction abolishes flatus and stool; residual distal content may be passed early.

Auscultation reveals hyperactive, high-pitched, metallic bowel sounds; peritoneal signs or systemic toxicity warn of strangulation or perforation.

Key Symptom	Description
Colicky abdominal pain	Intermittent cramps every 5–15 min
Abdominal distension	More marked in distal obstruction
Vomiting	Early & bilious (high), late & feculent (low)
Obstipation	No flatus or stool in complete obstruction
Hyperactive bowel sounds	High-pitched, metallic on auscultation
Peritoneal signs	Persistent pain, guarding → possible strangulation

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Chronic Superficial Gastritis: Common Symptoms and Clinical Manifestations

Symptoms of Duodenal Ulcer

What Are the Symptoms of Dysentery

What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer?

What Are the Symptoms of Acute Appendicitis?

What Are the Symptoms of Lymphadenitis?

What Are the Symptoms of Peritonitis?

What Are the Symptoms of Retroperitoneal Hematoma?

What Are the Symptoms of Fibroma?

What Are the Symptoms of Intestinal Obstruction?

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