Peptic ulcers can cause upper-abdominal pain and indigestion and may bleed or perforate. Helicobacter pylori infection and NSAID medicines are common causes.
Upper-abdominal pain
BIMARIDUR HEALTH ENCYCLOPEDIA
Peptic Ulcer Disease
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
Affected areaStomach or duodenal lining and nearby blood vessels or tissues when complications occur.
ContagiousnessThe ulcer itself is not contagious, although H. pylori infection can spread between people.
01 • QUICK UNDERSTANDING
What is Peptic Ulcer Disease?
02 • BODY & MECHANISM
What happens in the body?
What happens inside the body
Damage to the protective lining allows acid and digestive factors to produce an ulcer crater.
03 • TYPES & CLASSIFICATION
Types and classification
Common forms are gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Ulcers may also be classified by cause such as H. pylori or NSAID-related.
04 • SYMPTOMS
Symptoms and warning signs
Nausea
Bloating
Early fullness
Vomiting
Black or bloody stool if bleeding occurs
06 • CAUSES
What can cause this disease?
H. pylori infection and NSAID use are the most common causes. Less common causes include severe illness and other diseases.
07 • RISK FACTORS
Who may have a higher risk?
1
Previous ulcer
2
Long-term or high-dose NSAID use
3
H. pylori infection
4
Smoking
5
Older age or interacting medicines
08 • DIAGNOSIS
How is Peptic Ulcer Disease diagnosed?
H. pylori tests, blood or stool tests when appropriate, urea breath testing, upper GI endoscopy and selected imaging.
Clinical evaluation
Abdominal examination
Review of NSAID and aspirin use
Assessment for bleeding
Laboratory tests
H. pylori stool testing
CBC for anemia when bleeding is suspected
Selected H. pylori blood tests
Imaging and scans
Upper GI endoscopy
Upper GI series when appropriate
Special or confirmatory tests
Urea breath test
Endoscopic biopsy testing for H. pylori
09 • DIFFERENTIAL CONTEXT
Conditions that may look similar
Gastritis
GERD
Gallbladder disease
Pancreatic disease
Functional dyspepsia
10 • EXTENT / STAGE
Stages or severity
Peptic ulcers are not usually staged like cancer. Clinical assessment focuses on active ulcer, healing and complications.
Important:
Staging or grading systems differ between diseases. The information here is educational and should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional in the context of the individual case.
11 • TREATMENT
How is Peptic Ulcer Disease treated?
PPIs or other acid-suppressing medicines; combination antibiotics for H. pylori; management of NSAIDs; endoscopic or surgical treatment for complications.
Medicines that may be used
Proton pump inhibitor
H2 blocker in selected cases
Combination antibiotics for confirmed H. pylori
Bismuth in selected eradication regimens
Medicine safety:
Medicines listed here are for educational information only. Do not start, stop, or change a medicine without professional medical advice.
12 • COMPLICATIONS
Possible complications
Bleeding, perforation, penetration and gastric outlet obstruction can occur.
URGENT SAFETY INFORMATION
When should urgent medical help be considered?
Vomiting blood or coffee-ground material
Black or maroon stool
Sudden severe persistent abdominal pain
Fainting or shock symptoms
If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening, seek emergency medical care immediately.
13 • OUTLOOK
Prognosis and recovery outlook
Most ulcers heal with appropriate treatment. Recurrence is more likely if H. pylori or ulcer-causing medicines are not addressed.
How to interpret these statistics
Survival statistics describe outcomes in groups of people and cannot predict exactly what will happen to one individual. Prognosis depends on factors such as cancer stage, tumor biology, treatment response, overall health, and follow-up.
14 • EPIDEMIOLOGY
How common is it?
Peptic ulcer disease remains common worldwide and is influenced by H. pylori, NSAID use and other medical factors.
15 • PREVENTION
Risk reduction and prevention
Avoid unnecessary NSAIDs, do not smoke, use prescribed gastroprotection when indicated and eradicate confirmed H. pylori.
16 • PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT
Questions you may ask your doctor
1
Should I be tested for H. pylori?
2
Can I continue my NSAID or aspirin?
3
Do I need an endoscopy?
Important medical information
BimariDur provides educational health information to help people understand diseases, symptoms, tests, and treatment concepts. It does not replace examination, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Do not delay professional medical care because of information read on BimariDur.