Sapphire Editorial Blog

Ulcer Symptoms

Written by Johh Taylor

The mere mention of the term ulcers to one, who has suffered one or multiple, brings on a nightmare. These sores develop commonly in the mouth, along the skin and most of the time within the lining of the digestive tract. The latter includes the development of painful ulcers along the esophagus, duodenum, stomach and the intestines. There are many types of ulcers and they are commonly classified clinically on the basis of their location, especially the ones that develop along the digestive tract. Statistics reveal that peptic ulcers are the most on record, thereafter genital ulcers and mouth ulcers. The medical fraternity also categorizes bedsores as ulcers. Atypical GERD symptoms are also important. In the case of peptic ulcers or the ulcers of digestive tract, the common observations are along the stomach or the duodenum. Unlike previous belief that the ulcers in this region were mainly due to the onslaught of ingesting spicy food and stress, today, research reveals that the two mentioned factors are simply aggravations to another problem – the causative agent bacteria H. pylori. These ulcers also form due to reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also called NSAIDs. The symptoms of these ulcer types include: Abdominal discomfort Abdominal pain (after a meal or on an empty stomach) Weight loss Poor appetite Puffiness in the stomach Nausea Vomiting Blood in stool and vomit Black stools indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding The ulcers that form along the duodenum or duodenal ulcers are different from the ones that develop in the stomach or gastric ulcers. In the case of mouth sores or ulcers the main trigger factors are anemia, viral infection, measles, oral candidiasis, throat or mouth cancer and more commonly, vitamin B deficiency. The ulcers range from a white to a yellowish gray color. The ulcers commonly develop along the lining of the lips and cheeks and the underside of the tongue. They are known to be very painful and cause a lot of discomfort. In the case of esophageal ulcers or those that develop along the food pipe, the pain is sharp and discomforting, stretching from the end of the food pipe to the region below the breastbone, like in the case of heartburn. These ulcers are triggered by GERD symptoms, NSAIDs, and smoking. Bedsores or lesions on bodies of patients confined to bed are also very painful. The discomfort doubles if the patient is also coping with some debilitating illness. Bedsores or pressure sores develop on account of the pressure exerted on skin as the person lies in a position and an area for long. Genital ulcers are the result of sexually transmitted diseases. STDs like thrush, syphilis and genital herpes cause ulcers. They are also the result of certain non-sexual causes like yeast infections, scabies, any sort of genital trauma, pyoderma and Behcet's disease. These are usually observed as multiple ulcers are very painful due to the subsequent development of rash. The common symptoms observed in the case of all kinds of ulcers include: Gnawing or burning pain in the affected area Nausea Tiredness in the cased of a bleeding ulcer Timely diagnosis and treatment is the only way to combat the development of ulcers. It is imperative for the condition to be caught and rightly diagnosed at the very onset. The many methods employed for timely diagnosis include: Endoscopy X-ray examinations Testing for H. pylori Gastroscopy In the case of Endoscopy the doctor gets a direct view of the affected area, especially in the case of ulcers along the upper digestive tract. In this case, using a fiber-optic endoscope, he or she illuminates the path that food takes. The examination of the esophagus, stomach and subsequent digestive tract regions enables the doctor to note and observe the spread of inflammation along the ulcerated areas. The method is also used for the observation of growths and any ulcer malformations. In the case of an x-ray, the patient is made to swallow a chalky barium based liquid that clearly displays the ulcer on the x-ray. In the case of a gastroscopy the doctor inserts a flexible tube with light-conducting ability to obtain tissue samples. These are then sent for microscopic examination. This method helps a lot to rule out any cancerous formations. The trigger in the form of H. pylori needs to be ruled out with the help of a blood, breath and/or tissue test. The aim of the blood test is to identify and measure the antibodies in the obtained blood sample. The Meretek UBT Breath Test is conducted by making the person swallow a protein capsule or drink. The patient is hen asked to inflate a balloon with a straw. The exhaled air is checked for H. pylori bacteria evidence. In the case of ulcers, irrespective of the region affected, it is critical that diagnosis and treatments are addressed in time.

 

< Prev		Next >