CAUSES

some include the bacteria H. Pylori or by anti inflammatory pain relievers such as aspirin. These cause larger amounts of stomach acid to be produced, which damages the digestive tract’s lining and can sometimes cause internal bleeding,.

SYMPTOMS

abdominal pain - caused by the open sores that sometimes bleed
nausea - caused due to the imbalance in your digestive system
fatigue - caused by the bleeding from the sores, which can sometimes lead to anemia

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DIAGNOSIS

Doctors will first ask for your symptoms. Then they may perform an endoscopy, in which they use a long tube with a camera called an endoscope to search your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). If ulcer is found, the doctor will run a blood test for bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

BACTERIAL ULCER TREATMENT

For treatment of ulcers caused by H. pylori, the doctor will recommend a combination of medication such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), clarithromycin (Biaxin), metronidazole (Flagyl), etc. to get rid of the bacterium.

OTHER TREATMENTS

Otherwise, the doctor will also give medication like famotidine (Pepcid AC) to reduce acid production and less pain. Doctors also recommend antacids for pain relief and to neutralize stomach acid.

LEARN MORE

diagnosis + treatment

another overview
mayo clinic article

common misconceptions

PROGNOSIS

Most of the time, ulcers can be almost completely healed with treatment. Although some factors such as smoking and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause ulcers to come back.
Without treatment, ulcers can cause internal bleeding, obstruction, and even a hole in your stomach. It’s also shown that those infected with H. pylori, have a higher risk of developing Gastric cancer.

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