Definition:
Peptic Ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease or PUD, are sores that develop on the stomach lining, esophagus, the upper small intestine and other areas of the gastrointestinal tract, making it extremely painful for the patient.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of peptic ulcer can be made by measurements of antibody levels in the blood, stool antigen test, rapid urease test, EGD biopsy and urea breath test.
Treatment:
Mild cases of peptic ulcer in young patients are treated with H2 antagonists or antacids before undergoing EGD. Bismuth compounds are known to reduce or eliminate organisms.
Patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are usually prescribed with Misoprostol to prevent peptic ulcers, which is a common side effect of NSAIDs.
Severe cases of peptic ulcer require immediate surgery to repair perforation. When bleeding occurs, endoscopy can stop bleeding immediately.
Symptoms and Signs:
The common symptom among all cases of peptic ulcer is abdominal pain, usually after meals. Peptic ulcer symptoms may also include bloating or abdominal fullness, waterbrash, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting of blood, melena and a few cases of gastric perforation that would require immediate surgery.
Causes:
Over 80 percent of peptic ulcers are caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called “Helicobacter pylori” that typically lives in the stomach's acidic environment. However, only a small percent of such cases lead to serious risks.
Peptic ulcers usually arise in the first part of the small intestine. The disease can be caused and/or worsened by various drugs, such as NSAIDs and Aspirin. Approximately 5 percent of all peptic ulcers are caused by a malignant tumor.
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