Peptic ulcer

A peptic ulcer is an open sore that forms in the stomach or duodenum when digestive acid damages the protective gut wall. Ulcers become likelier with advancing age and in smokers; they can be serious, yet most patients recover. The main causes are Helicobacter pylori infection and regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen; stress and spicy food worsen ulcers without causing them. Typical features are burning upper abdominal pain, often worse at night, with bloating, nausea and early fullness after meals; bleeding, perforation or blockage are the serious complications. Doctors confirm the diagnosis by testing breath, stool or blood for H. pylori and by looking at the stomach lining through endoscopy or an X-ray series. Treatment is short-term: acid-reducing medicines such as proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics for H. pylori and changes to any aggravating painkillers, with surgery reserved for ulcers that do not heal.

Seek urgent care for vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing. See a doctor for heartburn more than twice a week, a change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or unexplained weight loss. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.