A person is sedated for this procedure. Then, the doctor puts an endoscope — a small, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end — down the throat and into the stomach and duodenum.
The doctors can see the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum to check for possible ulcers. A doctor also can do a blood test that looks for H. This may be important if the upper GI series showed an ulcer. The blood test can be done right in the doctor's office. Sometimes doctors test a poop sample called a stool test or a person's breath to check for the H.
Most H. Treatment involves two kinds of antibiotics and an acid suppressor antacid. The person takes the antibiotics for 2 weeks and the antacid for 2 months or longer. The ulcer may take 8 weeks to heal, but the pain usually goes away after a few days or a week.
The bacteria have been found in saliva spit , so kissing may be one way. As with many infections, washing your hands well and often is an important part of ulcer prevention. This is extra important after you use the bathroom and before you eat. And take good care of your body by exercising regularly and not smoking or drinking.
Reviewed by: J. Fernando del Rosario, MD. It can also perforate your stomach or small intestine, infecting your abdominal cavity. That causes a condition known as peritonitis. A bleeding ulcer can lead to anemia, bloody vomit, or bloody stools. A bleeding ulcer usually results in a hospital stay.
Severe internal bleeding is life-threatening. Perforation or serious bleeding may require surgical intervention. Ulcers can be successfully treated, and most people heal well. When treated with antibiotics and other medications, the success rate is 80 to 90 percent. Treatment will only be effective if you take all your medication as prescribed.
Also, some strains of H. Age, recurrent bleeding, and comorbidity are factors in this outcome. The main predictors for long-term mortality include:. For a long time, it was thought that ulcers were due to:. People with ulcers were advised to make lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and adopting a bland diet. That changed when H. Pylori was discovered in Doctors now understand that while diet and lifestyle can irritate existing ulcers in some people, generally they do not cause ulcers.
While stress can increase stomach acid that in turn irritates the gastric mucosa, stress is rarely the main cause of an ulcer. An exception is in individuals who are very ill, such as those in a critical care hospital unit. Another longstanding myth is that drinking milk is good for ulcers.
That may be because milk coats your stomach lining and relieves ulcer pain, at least for a short time. Unfortunately, milk encourages production of acid and digestive juices, which actually makes ulcers worse. But certain foods may help fight the cause of your stomach ulcer.
Stomach ulcers are open sores in the lining of the stomach. They are often extremely painful. Read on to learn about easy stomach ulcer home remedies…. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are both types of peptic ulcers. These ulcers can cause different symptoms, depending on where they are.
A peptic ulcer on…. Learn about risk factors, complications, and…. An EGD test examines the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Learn what the procedure involves and how to prepare for it. Helicobacter pylori , or H. Experts do not know for sure how people become infected with H. But some believe it is found in contaminated food and water. Being diligent about hand washing and consuming only clean, safe food and beverages are the only known ways to avoid the infection.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome ZES is an uncommon condition that causes tumors in the stomach, duodenum, or pancreas. These tumors cause the stomach to produce more acid than it needs, leading to peptic ulcers. The tumors caused by ZES may or may not be cancerous. Symptoms of ZES may be similar to those of regular peptic ulcers, such as dull or burning pain in the belly, as well as digestive problems, such as diarrhea , nausea, decreased appetite, bloating, and burping.
It is believed to cause less than 1 percent of all peptic ulcers. Previous studies have stated that up to 90 percent of peptic ulcers are caused by H. The study, which took place in Thailand, suggests that other factors, including alcohol, other infections, medications, or diseases, including stomach and intestinal cancer , may be to blame.
People with symptoms of a peptic ulcer may undergo a test known as an upper endoscopy. A doctor passes a lighted, flexible tube with a camera through the mouth and into the stomach. In some cases, it is possible to treat a bleeding ulcer during the endoscopy. Doctors often treat ulcers with medications that block or reduce stomach acid. These medicines include:. When a doctor diagnoses a person with a H. For many years, people thought ulcers were caused by stress or emotional causes.
But, the American College of Gastroenterology say that these factors do not cause ulcers, nor do certain foods or diets. A special diet is not recommended for people with ulcers, but taking their medications as prescribed is key.
With proper treatment, a peptic ulcer can be treated, and most people recover completely. They may need to avoid taking NSAIDs, and many people need a follow-up endoscopy to ensure the ulcer is gone. Any signs or symptoms of a bleeding ulcer require urgent medical attention. What are mouth ulcers and what types of mouth ulcer are most common?
0コメント