Gastritis is inflammation within the stomach lining, causing discomfort, pain, and nausea. For sudden, mild to moderate symptoms, urgent care is an appropriate first step. Providers evaluate acute symptoms, initiate immediate treatment, and can rule out other serious causes of abdominal distress.
Initial Assessment and Diagnosis
When visiting an urgent care clinic for stomach pain, the initial focus is on a thorough review of the patient’s medical history and current symptoms. The provider will ask detailed questions about the pain’s location, intensity, and duration, as well as recent medication use, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which commonly cause gastritis. A physical examination includes palpating the abdomen to check for tenderness, rigidity, or specific points of pain that might suggest a different diagnosis.
Urgent care relies on a clinical approach rather than complex imaging to diagnose acute gastritis. Limited laboratory tests may be performed, such as a complete blood count (CBC), to check for signs of infection, inflammation, or anemia that could indicate bleeding.
Providers may use a stool sample or breath test to screen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium often responsible for chronic gastritis and ulcers. Urgent care does not perform specialized procedures like endoscopy, which is the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. If the assessment suggests a more involved condition, the provider will stabilize the patient and refer them to a specialist for further testing.
Urgent Care Treatment and Management
The goal of urgent care treatment is to reduce stomach acid and allow the inflamed lining to heal. Providers recommend medications that neutralize or suppress acid production. Antacids, such as calcium carbonate, offer fast, short-term relief by buffering stomach acid.
For sustained relief, acid blockers are initiated. H2 blockers, like famotidine, decrease acid release into the digestive tract. PPIs, such as omeprazole, are stronger acid suppressors that block the cellular pumps responsible for acid secretion.
If H. pylori is suspected, the provider may begin an antibiotic regimen combined with acid-blocking medication. Immediate lifestyle and dietary adjustments are also emphasized. Patients must stop using NSAIDs and avoid stomach irritants, including alcohol, caffeine, and spicy or fatty foods.
A temporary bland diet of easily digestible foods is recommended to minimize irritation during the acute phase. Since urgent care provides short-term treatment, patients with persistent symptoms or confirmed H. pylori must follow up with a primary care physician or gastroenterologist for chronic condition management.
When Gastritis Symptoms Require Emergency Care
While urgent care handles mild to moderate symptoms, severe complications require immediate emergency room attention. Significant gastrointestinal bleeding is a medical emergency exceeding urgent care capabilities. Signs include vomiting material that is bright red or resembles dark, grainy coffee grounds.
Passing black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools (melena) points to bleeding in the upper digestive tract. Patients should seek emergency care immediately for sudden, severe, or unrelenting abdominal pain that prevents comfortable movement. Symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting alongside abdominal pain signal significant blood loss or severe dehydration, requiring hospital resources.