Peptic

Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers (pronounced: PEP-tik UL-sers) are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is stomach pain.

Etymology

The term "peptic" comes from the Greek word "peptikos" meaning "pertaining to digestion," and "ulcer" is derived from the Latin "ulcus" which means "sore."

Symptoms

Peptic ulcers include the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite

Causes

Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed. The causes include:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria
• Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of peptic ulcers involves medical history review, physical examination, and tests such as:

• Blood test
• Breath test
• Stool test
• Endoscopy

Treatment

Treatment for peptic ulcers depends on the cause, and may include:

• Antibiotic medications
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• H2-receptor blockers
• Cytoprotective agents

Related Terms

• Gastric ulcer: A type of peptic ulcer that develops in the stomach.
• Duodenal ulcer: A type of peptic ulcer that occurs in the upper part of the small intestine.
• Stomach acid: A key player in the development of peptic ulcers.
• Mucosa: The protective lining of the stomach and small intestine that can be eroded in the development of peptic ulcers.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Peptic
• Wikipedia's article - Peptic

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski