What causes erosive gastritis?

Erosive gastritis is commonly seen in acute erosive hemorrhagic gastritis, but can also occur in chronic superficial gastritis or atrophic gastritis with erosion. When mucosal breaks, oozing blood, or blood crusts are observed during endoscopy, the condition is generally referred to as erosive gastritis. Common causes of erosive gastritis include the following: 1. Trauma: Acute erosive gastritis is often associated with stress states, such as major trauma, major surgery, excessive alcohol consumption, or drug-induced injury—particularly from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or chemotherapy agents that cause chemical burns to the gastric mucosa. 2. Chronic gastritis with erosion is primarily caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. 3. Excessive gastric acid secretion: For example, patients with gastrinoma often experience persistently high gastric acid secretion, leading to erosive gastritis. 4. Gastric bezoars: When patients consume hawthorn or persimmons on an empty stomach, gastric stones may form. These stones can abrade the gastric mucosa, causing erosions in mild cases and ulcers in severe cases.