Where does a duodenal ulcer hurt?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Firstly, the common sites for duodenal ulcers are the anterior and posterior walls posterior to the bulb, as well as the area behind the duodenal bulb itself. The pain symptoms typically show a pattern. For example, the pain occurs in recurrent, cyclical episodes related to eating, manifesting as sporadic abdominal pain about 2cm above the right side of the belly button, more pronounced on an empty stomach, and alleviating after meals. Sometimes, there is also pain during the night. If the ulcer is located behind the duodenal bulb, it often causes back pain. The main cause is usually an infection with Helicobacter pylori, and eradication therapy can generally cure the condition.

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Is hot compress effective for duodenal ulcer?

Patients with duodenal ulcers may achieve some effects through hot compresses, but hot compresses cannot truly effectively treat duodenal ulcers. To effectively treat duodenal ulcers, it is first necessary to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection through the carbon-13 breath test or carbon-14 breath test. If the Helicobacter pylori infection is positive, it is necessary to eradicate Helicobacter pylori using a quadruple therapy containing bismuth. Subsequently, it is important to use proton pump inhibitors or H2 receptor antagonists to inhibit gastric acid secretion, and medications like aluminum magnesium carbonate to protect the gastric mucosa. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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The manifestations of duodenal ulcer.

Duodenal ulcers can cause symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, and indigestion. The characteristic of upper abdominal pain in duodenal ulcers typically lessens after eating and worsens when hungry. A gastroscope can reveal defects in the duodenal mucosa, confirming a diagnosis of duodenal ulcer. About 90%-100% of patients with duodenal ulcers are infected with Helicobacter pylori, therefore, a Carbon-14 breath test is recommended to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If the infection is positive, a 14-day eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required, involving a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth agent. Additionally, treatment for duodenal ulcers includes acid suppression, gastric protection, enhancing gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa. The treatment typically lasts about six weeks.

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What is the best treatment for duodenal ulcers?

The main symptoms of duodenal ulcer include upper abdominal bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, and indigestion. A duodenal ulcer can be diagnosed through a gastroscopy, which reveals the presence of an ulcer in the duodenum. The primary cause of duodenal ulcers is infection by Helicobacter pylori, hence a Carbon-14 breath test is recommended to confirm the presence of H. pylori infection. Roughly 90%-100% of patients with duodenal ulcers are infected with H. pylori. Another common cause is the digestion of the stomach itself by stomach acid and pepsin. Treatment primarily involves eradicating H. pylori, suppressing acid, protecting the stomach, enhancing gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa, with the treatment duration being about six weeks.

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What are the symptoms of duodenal ulcers?

The main symptoms of duodenal ulcers include upper abdominal bloating, burping, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion. The characteristic of the upper abdominal pain associated with duodenal ulcers is that the pain intensifies when hungry and decreases after eating. In terms of treatment, the main approach includes acid suppression to protect the stomach, promoting gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa, with the treatment course lasting about six weeks. Additionally, a Carbon-14 breath test is necessary to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, as Helicobacter pylori has been confirmed as the most important cause of peptic ulcers. If the Helicobacter pylori infection is positive, a 14-day treatment targeting Helicobacter pylori is required, using a regimen of a proton pump inhibitor, two antibiotics, and a bismuth agent.

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Can duodenal ulcers be cured?

Duodenal bulb ulcers are definitely treatable. Treatment is mainly through medication, with the specific approach depending on the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic relief using traditional medicines such as proton pump inhibitors, like omeprazole and lansoprazole. If Helicobacter pylori infection is present, antibacterial treatment is generally needed, using either triple or quadruple antibiotic therapy; triple therapy consists of a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics, and adding bismuth forms quadruple therapy. One treatment cycle lasts two weeks, and after completing medication, Helicobacter pylori can be rechecked in one month. Additionally, it's important to maintain good dietary and living habits. If recurrent duodenal bulb ulcers cause bleeding at night, surgical treatment can typically be considered.