What are the symptoms of duodenal ulcers?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on November 30, 2024
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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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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Characteristics of vomiting in duodenal ulcer

The main characteristic of vomiting due to duodenal ulcer is postprandial vomiting. Generally, patients with duodenal ulcers are prone to pyloric obstruction. When a large meal is consumed, pyloric obstruction may occur, preventing stomach contents from passing into the duodenum, leading to vomiting. Additionally, patients might also experience vomiting of acidic stomach contents while fasting. After vomiting, patients with duodenal ulcers can use acid-suppressing medications to alleviate gastric edema and medications like mosapride to promote gastric motility. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can you eat garlic with a duodenal ulcer?

Common symptoms of duodenal ulcer include stomach pain, bloating, burping, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. The pain typically becomes more noticeable when hungry and lessens after eating. This pattern of pain is a characteristic manifestation. By performing endoscopy, defects can be seen in the duodenal mucosa. Treatment involves acid suppression, stomach protection, and promotion of gastric motility, with a particular emphasis on dietary adjustments. It is important to avoid smoking and alcohol, as well as spicy, fried, barbecue, and other irritating foods. Garlic, being an irritant, should not be consumed by those with duodenal ulcers. A diet consisting of easily digestible and mild foods is recommended, such as porridge, soup, noodles, or very tenderly cooked meats, which can assist in the treatment of duodenal ulcers.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Where does a duodenal ulcer hurt?

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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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Symptoms of duodenal ulcer

Duodenal ulcers are relatively common in clinical practice and are a frequent condition in gastroenterology. Duodenal ulcers are generally more prevalent among middle-aged individuals, with symptoms most commonly including abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. The abdominal pain typically manifests as upper abdominal pain, usually hunger pain which often improves after eating. It typically presents as long-term, chronic episodes over extended periods and can also occur at night as hunger pain. Therefore, for some typical patients, especially middle-aged individuals, upper abdominal pain should raise concerns about duodenal ulcers. If a patient exhibits symptoms other than abdominal pain, such as black stools, this could suggest bleeding associated with duodenal ulcers, potentially leading to black stools or even vomiting blood. Hence, it is advised that if a patient has symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding along with abdominal pain, consideration should be given to the possibility of a bleeding duodenal ulcer. It is recommended that such patients undergo thorough gastroscopic examinations to clarify the diagnosis further.