It is a break in the inner lining of the stomach, first part of the small intestine or sometimes the lower oesophagus. An ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, while that in the first part of the intestines is a duodenal ulcer.
Symptoms include: Burning stomach pain, vomiting or vomiting blood — which may appear red or black, dark blood in stool, or stools that are black or tarry, feeling of fullness, bloating or belching, heartburn, nausea or vomiting. The main causes of peptic ulcers are infection called helicobacter pylori and taking medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin, which irritate the lining of your digestive tract.
It’s really important to get the right treatment if you’re diagnosed with a peptic ulcer. You will
usually be prescribed a medicine called a PPI (proton-pump inhibitor) to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. It is also important to treat the cause which is commonly H.pylori infection by taking a course of two different antibiotics that your doctor will prescribe to clear the infection, and to stop medications such as ibuprofen.
If untreated for a prolonged period it may lead to internal bleeding that leads to anaemia. Severe loss of blood causes bloody vomit or bloody stool and requires hospitalisation and blood transfusion.
Peptic ulcer can cause perforation (hole) in the intestine which can attract infection in the abdominal cavity (peritonitis), that needs emergency surgery. Peptic ulcer may sometimes get inflamed causing obstruction that causes early satiety, nausea, vomiting and leads to inadequate food consumption.
Surgery is usually reserved for complications of PUD.