A patient presents with postprandial pain and vomits fresh blood. What might be the diagnosis?

The scenario of postprandial pain accompanied by vomiting fresh blood strongly suggests a diagnosis of gastritis. Gastritis is characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining, and it can manifest with symptoms following meals, especially if the inflammation is aggravated by the ingestion of certain foods or irritants. The presence of fresh blood in the vomit indicates that there may be erosion or bleeding in the gastric mucosa, which is a common complication of gastritis.

In the case of gastritis, the condition may be acute or chronic, with acute cases often triggered by factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, stress, or infection (e.g., Helicobacter pylori). The timing of the pain after eating aligns with gastritis since the stomach lining may become more irritated as food is consumed, leading to discomfort and complications like bleeding.

While other conditions such as cholecystitis, pancreatitis, or pneumonia could cause abdominal pain, they do not typically present with vomiting fresh blood as a prominent feature. For example, cholecystitis is related to gallbladder inflammation and generally presents with pain in the right upper quadrant rather than specifically postprandial symptoms coupled with hematemesis. Pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain and nausea but does not usually