Which condition is characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa?

The condition characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa is gastritis. This condition involves the lining of the stomach becoming swollen or inflamed, which can result from various factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use of certain medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In gastritis, the inflammation can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen. The recognition of gastritis is crucial for effective treatment and management to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications such as bleeding or the development of ulcers.

The other options refer to different conditions: ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon and rectum, cirrhosis of the liver involves long-term damage to the liver typically caused by chronic liver diseases, and hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus that can lead to inflammation. While some of these conditions may involve inflammatory processes, they do not specifically pertain to the inflammation of the gastric mucosa as gastritis does.