Duodenal Ulcers

In common, terminology an ulcer is defined as the sore or boils on the skin. Medically it is the cut on the mucus membrane, which is defined as a thin issue that lies on the inner surface of the skin openings. The causes for ulcers infection are many. Most important among them are bacteria and general weakness. The healing process of the ulcers is also very time-consuming. The digestive part of the human body is mostly affected by the ulcers. Depending upon the area affected by ulcers, they are called gastric ulcers, peptic ulcers and duodenal ulcers. This topic is restricted to the discussion about duodenal ulcers.

Duodenal ulcers
A duodenum is called the lining in the upper part of the small intestine, just below the stomach. Ulcer can affect the stomach, duodenum, gullet or throat. When duodenum is affected it is called duodenal ulcer. The stomach acid and digestive juices eat away the lining of the stomach.

In addition to this, H.pyloridus bacteria are the chief causer of duodenal ulcers. Anti-inflammatory medicines and cigarettes are other causes for duodenal ulcers. It is hereditary in nature. It has been found that in the case of men of over 50 years of age the chances of occurrence of duodenal ulcers are four times greater than the women of same age group.

Duodenal ulcers are diagnosed by means of barium X-ray or endoscope treatment. The complications of the duodenal ulcers may lead to bleeding, perforation and gastric obstruction.

Symptoms
Duodenal ulcer symptoms occur in the form of heartburn, stomach pain, weight gain and a burning sensation at the back of the throat. Normally it occurs two or three hours after meals. In most of the cases, the duodenal ulcers cause pain to the patient at midnight and it persists for two to three hours. Apart from this, the followings are the less common duodenal ulcer symptoms.

Belching
Belching is releasing of gas from the stomach through mouth making loud noise in the throat. The outgoing gases create lot of inconvenience to the patient.

Nausea
Nausea is the unsettling feeling in the stomach. It creates an urge to vomit.

Vomiting
Vomiting is the process of emptying the stomach content through mouth. Normally vomiting occurs when the person has digestive problem because of duodenal ulcer.

Poor appetite
Poor appetite is the absence of desire for food. It is good symptom for identifying the duodenal ulcers.

Loss of weight
Loss of weight relates to decrease in the weight of the body regularly in spite of standard diet. People afflicted with duodenal ulcer undergo weight loss because of poor appetite.

Feeling tired and weak.
Feeling tired and weak is becoming worn out. The poor appetite leads to poor intake of food, which is not digested because of the presence of duodenal ulcer.

Treatment
The doctors seriously analyze the symptoms of duodenal ulcer before prescribing any medicine. In addition to this, the patient’s medical history is also carefully verified before actually starting the treatment. The treatment includes GI X-ray, blood tests, stool test.

In the GI x-ray tests, the patient is asked to swallow liquid barium to identify the ulcer on X-ray. Endoscopy is the one common treatment which is resorted to for ulcer related problems. In this type of treatment the upper digestive tract is verified. Biopsy is another form of treatment in which one piece of tissue is removed during the process of Endoscopy, and tested by sending it to laboratory.

Ulcer symptoms include Hemorrhage, Penetration, Perforation and obstruction. These complications may arise depending upon the severity of the ulcer. The treatment for duodenal ulcers include administration of antibiotics to kill the H,Pyloridus bacteria, use of antacids for laying a protective barrier over the site of ulcer and reducing the generation of acid inside the stomach. In ex-ordinary cases of ulcer resulting in hemorrhage, obstruction etc, and surgery may be needed for treatment.

Duodenal ulcers can be treated completely. But recurrence of the disease can be avoided if only the affected person cooperates by not consuming alcohol, by non-smoking tobacco products and avoiding inflammatory medicines like aspirin, ibbrufen etc, for other treatments.

Duodenal ulcer is better avoided by prevention.