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Topic Overview
Peptic ulcers are sores in the inner lining of the stomach or upper small intestine (duodenum). These sores develop when the stomach's digestive juices—which contain hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin—irritate and damage tissue.
Peptic ulcers that form in the lining of the stomach are called gastric ulcers. Those that form in the upper small intestine are called duodenal ulcers. The stomach's digestive juices also can injure the esophagus. See the topic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) for more information on this condition.
See an illustration of the digestive tract.
The two most common causes of peptic ulcer disease are:
- Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.
- Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- A health professional begins the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease by taking a medical history and doing a physical exam.
- A doctor who specializes in digestive diseases (a gastroenterologist) often confirms the diagnosis with an endoscopy, a test used to look at the stomach or duodenum.
- If H. pylori is the suspected cause of an ulcer, tests may be done to detect the organism or its antibodies.
Treatment for peptic ulcer disease involves taking medications that reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. If an H. pylori infection is present, antibiotics to eliminate the infection can be taken with these medications.
Complications sometimes can develop from ulcers. These include bleeding, obstruction of the opening (pylorus) between the stomach and the small intestine, and perforation of the stomach. Rarely, an abnormal connection (fistula) may form between the stomach and another nearby structure, such as the small intestine.
