A stomach ulcer a.k.a peptic ulcer is basically a minute erosion or injury in the GI tract. The size of an ulcer in the stomach may vary from 1/8th of an inch to 3/4th of an inch. It is a fairly common disease and can happen to anybody.
The causes of stomach ulcer are listed below.
The symptoms of stomach ulcer include,
Once a peptic ulcer is diagnosed majority of the patients respond very well to medications. In patients who have been diagnosed to have H.Pylori infection, a course of antibiotics is useful to prevent recurrence of ulcers.
In a small group of patients who have complicated ulcers there may be a need for surgery to decrease the acid secretion.
The complications of stomach ulcer include internal bleeding and also obstruction of emptying of the stomach. These patients need emergency endoscopy to control the bleeding by giving an injection into the ulcer or by clipping the bleeding blood vessel. In cases where endoscopy fails to control bleeding emergency surgery may be required to stop the bleeding and to decrease acid secretion.
Stomach ulcers usually occur when the protective lining of the stomach is damaged, allowing acid to irritate the tissue underneath. The most common cause is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Other factors include long-term use of painkillers (NSAIDs), smoking, excess acid production, stress and sometimes genetic predisposition.
The most common symptom is a burning pain in the stomach that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. This pain often worsens between meals or when the stomach is empty. Other symptoms may include heartburn, indigestion, a feeling of hunger, loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.
Doctors usually start with your medical history and symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, an endoscopy is performed, where a thin camera is passed through the mouth to look at the stomach lining. This helps assess the severity of the ulcer, rule out cancer and test for H. pylori infection. The procedure is generally quick and safe.
Most stomach ulcers can be treated effectively with medications. If the cause is H. pylori infection, a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medicines is used to clear the infection and prevent recurrence. In rare or complicated cases, surgery may be required to control bleeding or reduce acid production.
Dr. Parthasarathy is experienced in treating stomach ulcers. Management may include medications, endoscopic procedures to control bleeding or surgery in severe cases, along with proper treatment of underlying causes like H. pylori infection.
Your health deserves the best. Choose Dr Parthasarathy for the best GI care.