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Peptic ulcer

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Ulcer - peptic; Ulcer - duodenal or gastric; Duodenal ulcer

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain   is a common symptom but it may not always be present. The abdominal pain from peptic ulcers can differ a lot from person to person. For example, the pain may get better or worse after eating a meal.

Other possible symptoms include:

• Nausea , vomiting
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Heartburn , indigestion , belching
• Chest pain
• Vomiting blood
• Bloody or dark tarry stools

It is important to note that you may have no symptoms at all from an ulcer.

Signs and tests:

To diagnose an ulcer, your doctor will order one of the following tests:

• An upper GI -- a series of x-rays taken after you drink a substance called barium.
• An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) -- a special test performed by a gastroenterologist in which a thin tube is inserted through your mouth into the gastrointestinal tract to look at your stomach and small intestines.

During an EGD, the doctor may take a biopsy from the wall of the intestines to test for H. pylori .

Your doctor may also order:

• Stool guaiac cards to test for blood in your stool
• Hemoglobin test to check for anemia

References:

Spechler, SJ. Peptic Ulcers. In: Feldman, M, Friedman, LS, Sleisenger, MH, eds. Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease , 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA; WB Saunders Company; 2002:747-772.

Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine . 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001:910-918.

Mahachai V, Thomson AB, Vilaichone RK. Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and NSAIDs on the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding. J Med Assoc Thai . 2004 Sep;87 Suppl 2:S295-9. Review.

• Review Date: 5/3/2007
• Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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