Acute gastritis is a sudden inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

Acute gastritis may be caused by:

• Certain medications
• Alcohol
• Eating or drinking corrosive substances
• Extreme physiological stress
• Infections

Acute gastritis is often associated with a severe, acute illness, or trauma. The following increase your risk of acute gastritis:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (NSAIDs)
• Recent heavy alcohol use
• Major surgery
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• Respiratory failure

• Dark stools
• Hiccups
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Tests that may be done to diagnose acute gastritis include:

• CBC (shows anemia)
• Gastroscopy
• Stool guaiac
• Upper GI and small bowel series