20/02/2020
Peptic ulcer (stomach, duodenum) facts and picture
Illustration of a peptic or stomach ulcer.
Peptic ulcers may not be painful for some people, but for others the pain is constant.
Peptic ulcer are sores in the lining of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum.
The main symptom of a stomach or duodenal ulcer is upper abdominal pain, which can be dull, sharp, or burning (a hunger-like feeling). (Bloating and burping are not symptoms of peptic ulcer, and vomiting, poor appetite, and nausea are uncommon symptoms of peptic ulcer.)
Other associated symptoms may include:
Acid reflux or heartburn
Feeling satiated (full) when eating
Peptic ulcer formation is related to H. pylori bacteria in the stomach and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) in 50% of patients. For the remaining 50% there are miscellaneous causes such as drugs, lifestyle factors (smoking), severe physiological stress, and genetic factors, but less frequently the cause is unknown.
Ulcer pain may not correlate with the presence or severity of ulceration.
Diagnosis of an ulcer can be made with an upper GI series or endoscopy.
Treatment of the esophagus, stomach or duodenal ulcersaims to relieve pain, heal the ulcer, and prevent complications. Medical treatment involves antibiotic combinations along with stomach acid suppression medication, for example, antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIS) to eradicate H. pylori eliminating precipitating factors such as NSAIDs or suppressing stomach acid alone.
Complications of esophageal, duodenal or stomach ulcers include;
bleeding,
perforation, and
blockage to the passage of food due to gastric obstruction from the swelling or scaring that surrounds the ulcer.
If a person with peptic ulcers smokes or takes NSAIDs, the ulcers may recur after treatment.
