Peptic ulcer

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.

Global statistics

Deaths from peptic ulcer disease per million persons in 2012
  0-7
  8-11
  12-16
  17-19
  20-25
  26-32
  33-40
  41-53
  54-72
  73-132
Disability-adjusted life year for peptic ulcer disease per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.
  no data
  less than 20
  20–40
  40–60
  60–80
  80–100
  100–120
  120–140
  140–160
  160–180
  180–200
  200–220
  more than 220

The lifetime risk for developing a peptic ulcer is approximately 5% to 10%. Men and women are equally as likely to have them.

The amount of deaths was much higher until the last decades of the 20th century, then dropped.

Deaths caused by peptic ulcer deaths globally in 2015 was 267,500.

Causes

Helicobacter pylori under microscope

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:

Symptoms and signs

The most frequent 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 red blood while having other symptoms is a serious sign.

Diagnosis

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.

Treatment

Treatment often entails the use of antibiotics to kill H. pylori; reducing or stopping the use of NSAIDs; and reducing or blocking the effects of stomach acid to assist in the ulcer's healing. Antacids such as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) or H-2 Blockers may be used to reduce stomach acid, or cytoprotective agents such as sucralfate or misoprostol may be used to protect the stomach lining from the acid.

References

  1. ↑ "WHO | Disease and injury country estimates". 2009-11-11. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  2. ↑ Snowden, F. M. (October 2008). "Emerging and reemerging diseases: A historical perspective". Immunological Reviews. 225 (1): 9–26. doi:10.1111/j.1600-065X.2008.00677.x. PMC 7165909. PMID 18837773.
  3. ↑ Lanas, Angel; Chan, Francis K L. (August 2017). "Peptic ulcer disease". The Lancet. 390 (10094): 613–624. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32404-7.
  4. ↑ Stenström B, Mendis A, Marshall B (August 2008). "Helicobacter pylori--the latest in diagnosis and treatment". Australian Family Physician. 37 (8): 608–12. PMID 18704207.