Peptic ulcer
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
A peptic ulcer is an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestines. It is the tube that food goes through when it leaves the stomach. Peptic means talking about the stomach.
Gastric ulcers are peptic ulcers in the stomach.
Duodenal ulcers are peptic ulcers in the duodenum.
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[change] Causes of peptic ulcers
Most ulcers are caused by an infection from bacteria. This bacteria is called Helicobacter pylori. 90% of gastric ulcers and 75% of duodenal ulcers are from Helicobacter pylori infection.
Other things can make ulcers worse. But these things are less important than Helicobacter pylori. These other things are:
- Taking some drugs called NSAIDs (acronym means Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) – These are medicines used for pain and inflammation. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
- Smoking cigarettes
- Old age
- Stress from diseases or injuries like pneumonia and burns
- If someone in a family has a duodenal ulcer
[change] Symptoms of peptic ulcers
A symptom is a change in the body that tells someone that they have a disease. The biggest symptom is pain in the stomach. Pain is usually in the top of the abdomen below the ribs. Some people also feel pain go up to the chest.
Other symptoms are:
- Vomiting
- Blood in vomit – this can be red. This can also look like coffee grounds (the black substance that is left after making coffee.)
- Black stools
[change] Diagnosis of peptic ulcers
Diagnosis is how doctors see if someone has a disease. Peptic ulcers are diagnosed by three ways:
- Endoscopy – looking inside someones stomach with a camera that goes through their mouth and down to their stomach
- Test on the air someone breathes out to look for Helicobacter pylori infection
- Blood test to look for Helicobacter pylori infection
The best way is endoscopy. But this costs more money. Endoscopy is done by a medical specialist called a gastroenterologist (a doctor who knows much about the digestive system.)
A good thing about endoscopy is finding other diseases if there is no peptic ulcer. The symptoms of peptic ulcer can be from other diseases. Endoscopy can diagnose these other diseases.
[change] Treatment of peptic ulcers
The most important treatment is to stop the Helicobacter pylori infection. This is done with antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines that kill germs like bacteria. More than one antibiotic is used.
It is also important to make less acid in the stomach. There are two types of medicines to stop the acid. These are called antacids:
- PPI (acronym) Proton Pump Inhibitors
- H2-Blockers – block the Histamine-2 receptor
Both of these medicines make the cells in the stomach stop making acid.
To stop peptic ulcers people must use antacids and antibiotics. The antibiotics kill the Helicobacter pylori. The antacids let the stomach heal.
Once the medicines are done, the ulcer should be gone. It can come back. It comes back if the person gets Helicobacter pylori again.
