A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum caused by gastric acids. Peptic ulcers are common and can recur unless treated. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloody stools. Diagnosis involves endoscopy or upper GI series to detect ulcers. Complications include perforation, bleeding, and scar tissue formation if left untreated. Treatment consists of medications that reduce acid production such as PPIs, antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori infections, and cytoprotective agents.
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum caused by gastric acids. Peptic ulcers are common and can recur unless treated. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloody stools. Diagnosis involves endoscopy or upper GI series to detect ulcers. Complications include perforation, bleeding, and scar tissue formation if left untreated. Treatment consists of medications that reduce acid production such as PPIs, antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori infections, and cytoprotective agents.
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum caused by gastric acids. Peptic ulcers are common and can recur unless treated. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloody stools. Diagnosis involves endoscopy or upper GI series to detect ulcers. Complications include perforation, bleeding, and scar tissue formation if left untreated. Treatment consists of medications that reduce acid production such as PPIs, antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori infections, and cytoprotective agents.
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum caused by gastric acids. Peptic ulcers are common and can recur unless treated. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloody stools. Diagnosis involves endoscopy or upper GI series to detect ulcers. Complications include perforation, bleeding, and scar tissue formation if left untreated. Treatment consists of medications that reduce acid production such as PPIs, antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori infections, and cytoprotective agents.
duodenal) is a sore in the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.
An ulcer of the stomach Gastric ulcer;
An ulcer of the duodenum Duodenal ulcer; An ulcer of the esophagus Esophageal ulcer. Peptic ulcers occur when the lining these organs is eroded by the acidic digestive (peptic) juices that the cells of the stomach lining secretes. Peptic ulcer disease is common, affecting millions of Americans yearly. Moreover, peptic ulcers are a recurrent problem; even healed ulcers can recur unless treatment is directed at preventing their recurrence. Are Ulcers painful? The pain of ulcer disease correlates poorly with the presence or severity of active ulceration. Some individuals have persistent pain even after an ulcer is almost completely healed by medication. Others experience no pain at all. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing that they are present unless a serious complication (like bleeding or perforation) occurs. What Causes Ulcers?
Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), a type of bacteria that
can cause a stomach infection and inflammation Frequent use of aspirin, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs (risk associated with this behavior increases in women and people over the age of 60) Smoking Drinking too much alcohol Radiation therapy Stomach cancer What are the Signs and Symptoms? The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest, which can range from mild to severe. Peptic ulcers may not produce any symptoms in the early phases. Other common signs of a peptic ulcer include: Changes in appetite Nausea Bloody or dark stools Unexplained weight loss Indigestion Vomiting Chest pain How is it Diagnosed? Two types of tests are available to diagnose a peptic ulcer. Upper endoscopy- Not all cases require an upper endoscopy. However, this procedure is recommended for people with a higher risk of stomach cancer. This includes people over the age of 45, as well as people who experience: o Anemia o Weight loss o Gastrointestinal bleeding o Difficulty swallowing
Upper gastrointestinal GI series- This is a type of X-ray. The patient is given
a chalky liquid to drink that increases the contrast on the X-ray, making certain features easier to see. Because this liquid contains barium, this test is sometimes called a barium swallow. H. pylori Test-Because H. pylori is a cause of peptic ulcers, a test should be carried out to check for this infection in stomach. Three types of tests are available to detect H pylori. o Blood tests: These tests detect the bacteria by measuring antibodies to the bacteria. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to defend against an "invader" such as H pylori.
o Breath test: This test detects H pylori by measuring carbon dioxide in
the breath of a person who has drunk a special liquid. H pylori bacteria break down the liquid, increasing the amount of carbon in the blood. The body gets rid of this carbon by breathing it out as carbon dioxide. This test is more accurate than the blood test.
o Tissue tests: These tests are used only if an endoscopic biopsy has been done, because a sample of tissue from the stomach is needed to detect the bacteria. What are the Complications of Peptic Ulcer? Untreated ulcers can become worse over time. They can lead to other more serious health complications such as:
Perforation Internal Bleeding Scar Tissue
A hole develops in the Bleeding ulcers can This is thick tissue
lining of the stomach result in significant that develops after an or small intestine and blood loss and thus injury. This tissue causes an infection. A require makes it difficult for sign of a perforated hospitalization. Signs food to pass through ulcer is sudden, of a bleeding ulcer your digestive tract. severe abdominal include Signs of scar tissue pain lightheadedness, include vomiting and dizziness, and black weight loss. stools.
All three complications are serious and may
require surgery. 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
Special Dietary Concerns
Since coffee stimulates gastric acid secretion, and alcohol can cause gastritis, moderation in alcohol and coffee consumption is recommended What is the treatment of Peptic Ulcer?
Proton Pump Inhibitors Medications that block acid production and promote healing • Proton pump inhibitors — also called PPIs — reduce stomach acid by blocking the action of the parts of cells that produce acid. These drugs include the prescription and over-the-counter medications omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole.
Histamine blockers Medications to reduce acid production • Acid blockers — also called histamine (H-2) blockers — reduce the amount of stomach acid released into your digestive tract, which relieves ulcer pain and encourages healing. These include the medications ranitidine, famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine.
Antibiotics Medications to kill H. pylori
• NICE recommends a one-week triple therapy regimen as first-line eradication therapy. The optimum regimen, consists of a full dose proton pump inhibitor, with amoxicillin 1g and either clarithromycin 500mg, or (in the case of penicillin hypersensitivity) metronidazole 400mg and clarithromycin 250mg, all given twice daily. Cytoprotective Medications that protect the lining of your stomach agents and small intestine • They helps protect the tissues that line your stomach and small intestine. Options include the prescription medications sucralfate and misoprostol References: https://www.healthline.com/health/peptic-ulcer#causes https://www.medicinenet.com/peptic_ulcer/article.htm#what_causes_peptic_ulcers https://www.emedicinehealth.com/peptic_ulcers/article_em.htm#what_tests_diagnose_a_peptic_ulcer https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peptic-ulcer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354229
