Gastritis, also known as dyspepsia, happens due to inflammation of the mucosal lining in the stomach. It can be either an acute or a chronic condition. It is a prevalent disease with a wide variety of causes.

The symptoms associated with gastritis include:
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Abdominal bloating
Vomiting
Indigestion
Sensation of fullness in the upper stomach, especially after eating
Hiccups
Burning sensation in the stomach in between meals or at night
Loss of appetite
Black, tarry stools
Vomiting blood or material that looks similar to coffee grounds

Factors causing gastritis are:
Excessive consumption of alcohol
Stress
Frequent use of certain medicines such as anti-inflammatory drugs
Use of cocaine or tobacco
Helicobacter pylori infection in the lining of the stomach
Damaged or thin stomach lining
Bile reflux (backflow of bile from the bile tract into the stomach)
Old age
Autoimmune disorders
Infection by bacteria and viruses

There is a possibility that gastritis can lead to stomach cancer. In some cases, a bacterial infection caused by Helicobacter pylori can lead to ulcers in the lining of the stomach. This may result in stomach cancer, especially in people with a thin stomach lining.

Complications of gastritis include stomach bleeding, ulcers, anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia) as well as benign or cancerous growths in the stomach lining.