Many things can cause inflammation in your stomach lining, known as gastritis. These include infection, irritation, autoimmune and blood disorders, or a backflow of bile into the stomach or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
The most common cause is a bacterial infection, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) that also causes stomach ulcers and should be treated by your doctor.
Most of the time, a person with gastritis has stomach upset and pain. Other symptoms may include indigestion, heartburn, hiccups, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting (may look like coffee grounds or blood), or dark stools.
In some cases, the stomach lining may be "eaten away," leading to sores (peptic ulcers) in the stomach or first part of the small intestine. Gastritis can occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or gradually (chronic gastritis).
In most cases, gastritis, if treated, does not permanently damage the stomach lining.