Internet is full of information on Peptic Ulcers. However, most of the articles are not written by doctors and can be misleading. We prepared a list of questions our patients with Peptic ulcers often ask the doctors.
This resource will help you understand everything you need to know about peptic ulcers. We were fortunate enough to have all the questions answered by the best gastroenterologist in Dubai, Dr. Dawood Ismail Kazia.
What is a peptic ulcer?
A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of your stomach, small intestine, or esophagus. A peptic ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, whereas a peptic ulcer in the small intestine (duodenum) is called the A duodenal ulcer. It is not a bacteria.
Causes of Peptic Ulcer
Which bacteria cause a peptic ulcer?
Bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori causes peptic ulcer in the stomach and small intestines, and causes peptic ulcer. It is the most common cause of peptic ulcers. It is an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
What causes a peptic ulcer flare-up?
Pain killers/ Stress/ Spicy/Oily food can cause a peptic ulcer to flare up. Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, etc) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can further flare up the peptic ulcers.
Can stress cause a peptic ulcer?
Stress can be a cause of peptic ulcers.
Can fried food cause peptic ulcers?
Fried food cannot cause peptic ulcers.
Can Tobacco cause Peptic Ulcer?
Tobacco does not cause peptic ulcers. It can aggravate GERD.
Can Alcohol Cause Peptic Ulcer?
Alcohol does not cause peptic ulcers. It can aggravate GERD.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer
What are the common symptoms of peptic ulcers?
Common symptoms of Peptic Ulcer are Pain over the upper abdomen, heartburn, chest pain, bloating, black stool, burping, nausea, and weight loss. Some rare symptoms are blood in stool, loss of appetite, and lower abdomen pain. Although, joint pain, jaw pain, jaundice, fever, fatigue, or back pain are never the symptoms of peptic ulcer.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer | |
| Heart Burn | Common |
| Chest Pain | Common |
| Bloating | Common |
| Black Stool | Common |
| Burping | Common |
| Nausea | Common |
| Weight loss | Common |
| Blood in Stool | Rare |
| Which of the following are symptoms of Peptic Ulcer? [Row 12] | Rare |
| Loss of Appetite | Rare |
| Lower Abdominal Pain | Rare |
| Which of the following are symptoms of Peptic Ulcer? [Joint pain] | Never |
| Jaw Pain | Never |
| Jaundice | Never |
| Fever | Never |
| Fatigue | Never |
| Backpain | Never |
| Left Shoulder Pain | Never |
| Weight Gain | Never |
| Yellow Eyes | Never |
Diagnosis of Peptic Ulcer
Which tests are done to diagnose peptic ulcers?
Upper GI endoscopy is done to test if the patient has a peptic ulcer. Other tests may include:
- Physical Exam
- X-ray
- Lab tests
- Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and biopsy
- Upper GI series
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
Dr. Dawood Kazia strongly recommends going for an Upper GI endoscopy to test for peptic ulcer. The test must be recommended by a specialist gastroenterologist. If you have not consulted with a gastroenterologist yet, kindly book an appointment with the best gastroenterologist in Dubai, Dr. Dawood Ismail Kazia.
How does endoscopy help in diagnosing peptic ulcers?
Endoscopy helps in Direct visualization of an ulcer and simultaneous biopsy to assess etiology.
Can ultrasound of the stomach detect a peptic ulcer?
Ultrasound cannot detect peptic ulcers caused by bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori in the stomach and duodenum. Upper GI endoscopy is highly recommended by specialist gastroenterologists for testing peptic ulcers, including gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers.
Treatments For Peptic Ulcers
What is the best treatment for peptic ulcers?
The best treatment for peptic ulcers is to treat the underlying cause along with medicines to reduce the acid levels. Anti-acid medications can be given if indicated and are safe. Peptic ulcers cannot go away on their own or with exercise or a change in diet. Quadruple therapy can also cure peptic ulcers.
What is the peptic ulcer recovery time?
2 to 6 months
You can recover from peptic ulcers within 2 to 6 months. You must take anti-acid medication to reduce the acid levels to recover from the peptic ulcer. Take Non-spicy,non-oily diet rich in green vegetables for faster recovery.
When asked, Dr. Dawood Kazia Ismail Agreed with the findings of recent research. “In a more recent multicentre study including more than 600 patients, significantly more ulcers healed after 4 weeks with omeprazole, both 20 mg, and 40 mg once daily, than with ranitidine, 150 mg b.d. Omeprazole was also superior to ranitidine with respect to relief of night-time pain and in gastric ulcer healing.”
Risk Factors
Which organs does peptic ulcer affect?
Peptic Ulcer affects Stomach/Duodenum. It can also affect the esophagus as the excess acid can lead to reflux esophagitis. As a result, oral ulcers may develop as a part of acid reflux. Some of the other complications that may arise from peptic ulcers are peptic ulcer bleed, ulcer perforation, and Gastric cancer.
Prevention
How can we prevent peptic ulcers?
Early diagnosis and treatment of the predisposing conditions can prevent peptic ulcers.
When to see a doctor?
if you have a peptic ulcer, you should see a doctor when you have:
- pain over the upper abdomen
- symptoms not improving with otc meds
- blood in vomitus
- black colored stools
- unexplained weight loss
- recurrent vomiting
FAQs
What is the difference between peptic ulcer and gastric ulcer?
Gastric ulcer and duodenal Ulcer are subsets of Peptic ulcers.
What are the different types of gastric ulcers?
Depending on the location the types of peptic ulcer can vary.
What is the epigastric pain caused by a peptic ulcer?
Its dull aching pain usually changes with meals in peptic ulcer patients.
Is a peptic ulcer a bacteria?
A peptic ulcer is not a bacteria.
What is peptic ulcer hemorrhage?
Peptic ulcer hemorrhage is a peptic ulcer that bleeds
Can children have a peptic ulcer?
Yes, children can also have a peptic ulcer.
Conclusion
There is a lot of information available on the internet about peptic ulcers. However, the information written by non-medical professionals can be misleading. Therefore, Dr. Dawood Ismail Kazia, a specialist gastroenterologist in Dubai explains all symptoms, causes, risks, treatments, and prevention of peptic ulcers in detail.