National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Peptic Ulcer is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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National Institutes of Health
Peptic Ulcer
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.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Start Here
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H. pylori and Peptic Ulcers(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- Ulcers(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
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What I Need to Know about Peptic Ulcers
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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H. pylori and Peptic Ulcers
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
, and
For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Peptic Ulcer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Peptic Ulcer Disease(American College of Gastroenterology)
- Understanding Peptic Ulcer Disease(American Gastroenterological Association) - PDF
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Fecal Occult Blood Test and Fecal Immunochemical Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Helicobacter pylori Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Peptic Ulcer: Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor(Harvard Medical School)
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Upper GI Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Specific Conditions
- H. pylori Infection(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Related Issues
- Aspirin and NSAIDS(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Bleeding in the Digestive Tract(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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H. pylori and Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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NSAIDs and Peptic Ulcers(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Return to top
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Tutorials
- Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Videos
- Stomach ulcer - Encyclopedia
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Duodenal Ulcer(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Helicobacter Infections(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Peptic Ulcer(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomach Ulcer(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Duodenal Ulcer
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Abdominal pain with vomiting for 1 day after subtotal gastrectomy...
- Article: Endoclips vs large or small-volume epinephrine in peptic ulcer recurrent...
- Article: Pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastric damage: importance of cyclooxygenase inhibition and...
- Peptic Ulcer -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
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Directories
- Find a Gastroenterologist(American College of Gastroenterology)
- Return to top
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Organizations
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Children
- Helicobacter pylori(Nemours Foundation)
- Peptic Ulcers(Nemours Foundation)
- Ugh! Ulcers(Nemours Foundation)
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Teenagers
- Ulcers(Nemours Foundation)
- Return to top
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Patient Handouts
- Culture - duodenal tissue
- Also available in Spanish
- Gastric tissue biopsy and culture
- Also available in Spanish
- Peptic ulcer
- Also available in Spanish
- Tests for H. pylori
- Also available in Spanish
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
