Also called: Also called: Duodenal ulcer, Gastric ulcer, Stomach ulcer, Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain
- May come and go for a few days or weeks
- May bother you more when your stomach is empty
- Usually goes away after you eat
Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse.
Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to block stomach acids or antibiotics to kill ulcer-causing bacteria. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol can help. Surgery may help for ulcers that don't heal.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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H. pylori and Peptic Ulcer
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
Also available in Spanish http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/hpylori/index.htm -
Ulcers and H. pylori Infection(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/disorders/271.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/digestive/disorders/271.printerview.html
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What I Need to Know about Peptic Ulcers
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/pepticulcers_ez/
- Peptic Ulcer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/peptic-ulcer/DS00242/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Understanding Peptic Ulcer Disease(American Gastroenterological Association) - http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5686
- Fecal Occult Blood Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fecal_occult_blood/test.html
- Helicobacter pylori Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/h_pylori/test.html
- Peptic Ulcer Disease and H. pylori(American Gastroenterological Association) - http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=857
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Upper Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm -
Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/uppergi/
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Ulcers: What You Can Do to Heal Your Ulcer(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/disorders/186.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/digestive/disorders/186.printerview.html
- H. pylori Infection(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/h-pylori/DS00958/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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JAMA Patient Page: Helicobacter Pylori(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/300/11/1374.pdf
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Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/zollinger/
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Bleeding in the Digestive Tract(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/bleeding/
- Causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/ulcers/hic_causes_of_peptic_ulcer_disease.aspx
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Dangers of Aspirin and NSAIDS(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/women/asprin.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/cgp/pdf/Spnsaids.pdf
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NSAIDs and Peptic Ulcers(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nsaids/
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Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Duodenal Ulcer(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Duodenal+Ulcer%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Helicobacter Infections(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Helicobacter+Infections%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Peptic Ulcer(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Peptic+Ulcer%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomach Ulcer(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Stomach+Ulcer%22
- Consensus Document Outlines Practical Steps for Reducing Gastrointestinal Risks(American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Gastroenterology) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=539
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: JAMA patient page. Helicobacter pylori. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18799452&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Wiping out the bacteria that cause peptic ulcers. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18767229&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Management of acute bleeding from a peptic ulcer. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18753649&tool=MedlinePlus
- Peptic Ulcer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=peptic+ulcer[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- GI Physician Locator(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/phylocator.asp
- American College of Gastroenterology - http://www.acg.gi.org/
- American Gastroenterological Association - http://www.gastro.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- Helicobacter pylori(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/h_pylori.html
- Peptic Ulcers(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/peptic_ulcers.html
- Ugh! Ulcers(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/ulcers.html
- Ulcers(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/ulcers.html
- Stomach Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stomachdisorders.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Peptic Ulcer is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/