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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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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What will happen if you drink alcohol with a duodenal bulb ulcer?

Common symptoms of duodenal bulb ulcers include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. A gastroscopy can reveal defects in the duodenal mucosa, which can be diagnosed as duodenal ulcers. Drinking alcohol can irritate the gastric mucosa as well as the duodenal mucosa. If there is an ulcer in the duodenal bulb and alcohol is consumed, it can exacerbate the ulcer, causing the ulcerated area to enlarge and more severe symptoms to appear. Therefore, drinking alcohol can lead to the worsening of duodenal ulcers. Thus, individuals with gastric diseases or peptic ulcers must abstain from alcohol, as it can aggravate the existing condition. If a duodenal ulcer worsens, penetrating the serosal or basal layer, it may lead to perforation. In such cases, emergency surgery is required for treatment. Hence, it is crucial for those with duodenal ulcers to avoid alcohol.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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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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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Can you eat sunflower seeds with a duodenal ulcer?

Duodenal ulcer, its main symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, heartburn, and indigestion, among others. By undergoing gastroscopy, if defects are observed in the duodenal mucosa, a diagnosis of duodenal ulcer can be made. The treatment focuses on acid suppression, gastric protection, enhancing gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa. Dietary considerations are crucial. Firstly, it is essential to quit smoking and alcohol. Avoid strong tea, coffee, fatty, greasy, spicy, fried, barbecued, cold foods, and sweets. Consumption of seeds such as sunflower seeds, which are high in fats, is also not recommended. These can increase gastric acid secretion and potentially worsen duodenal ulcers, hence they should be avoided.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
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The difference between duodenitis and duodenal ulcer

The difference between duodenitis and duodenal ulcer is as follows: A diagnosis of duodenitis under endoscopy indicates inflammation in the duodenal bulb or descending part, featuring patchy congestion or spotted, erosive conditions identified during the endoscopic procedure, which lead to the diagnosis of duodenitis. If isolated or multiple ulcerative lesions are found in a certain area, it is diagnosed as a duodenal ulcer. Benign ulcers typically have clear boundaries, with surfaces covered with white moss or blood scabs, and the surrounding area may exhibit redness, concentrated mucosa, among other characteristics. Depending on these different presentations, there are different stages of the disease. Both duodenitis and duodenal ulcers are considered benign lesions.