Treatment for Peptic Ulcer: Recommend by Best Gastroenterologist

Posted by Shivani Jani on December 4th, 2020

Sores that evolve on the esophagus and stomach's internal walls and upper part of the small intestine are considered peptic ulcers. They are induced when stomach acid injures the interior wall of the mentioned digestive organs.

A peptic ulcer can be of two types:

  • Duodenal Ulcers-Develop on the duodenum's inner lining (upper fraction of the small intestine).
  • Gastric Ulcers-Develop on the inner wall of the stomach.

Peptic Ulcer: Symptoms and Causes

One of the commonly perceived symptoms is stomach pain. Other symptoms include:

  • Intolerance to fat
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Blood in stool or black, tarry stool
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Breathing problem
  • Heartburn

Peptic ulcers are believed to develop when stomach acid causes harm to the digestive system. The track has a layer of mucous to protect acids. However, when the quantity of acid rises or the abundance of mucous in the coating diminishes, then the inner lining gets damaged by acid. Thus, giving rise to ulcers.

Other causes:

  • A bacterium named Helicobacter pylori that inhabits mucous coating can lead to an inflamed stomach, causing ulcers.
  • Frequent intake of absolute pain killers also causes ulcers.
  • Long-term usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen sodium and ibuprofen. 

Peptic Ulcer: Diagnosis and Treatment

To diagnose a peptic ulcer, doctors will tell you to undergo some tests and exams. You can perform those tests at diagnostic centers. There are some excellent diagnostic centers in Guwahati, where you can take suggestions from Guwahati's best gastro doctors. Here's a list of the best gastrology doctors in Guwahati:

  • Dr. Pranjal Deka –a renowned MBBS, FEBS, MS, M.CH
  • Dr. Sobur Ahmed –a renowned MD, DM
  • Dr. Amitava Goswami –the renowned MD

Treatments mainly depend on the reason. Treatments involve destroying the Helicobacter pylori and curtailing NSAIDs usage.

Medicines and drugs:

  • Antibiotics to kill the bacteria- If the H. pylori are present in the digestive system, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics. Those may encompass tinidazole, tetracycline, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin.
  • Medicines to block acid secretion- Proton pump inhibitors prevent the acid-producing cells from secreting acids. These medicines may include esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole, and lansoprazole.
  • Medicines to lower the acid secretion- Histamine (H2) blockers lower the acid secretion, thus relieving the pain and encouraging the healing process. Acid blockers usually include nizatidine, famotidine, and cimetidine.
  • Medicines to protect the digestive organs' linings- In several cases, it has been seen that doctors prescribe medicines known as cytoprotective agents—this help to protect the inner lining of the esophagus, small intestine, and stomach.
  • Antacids to neutralize the acid- Doctors may also prescribe antacids to neutralize the stomach's acids. They also provide some relief from ulcer pain. 

What to avoid to prevent ulcers?

There are several cases accounted for unhealed ulcers. Those unhealed ulcers are referred to as refractory ulcers. The reasons that lead to refractory ulcers are:

  • Tobacco intake
  • Antibiotic-resistant H. pylori
  • Frequent use of NSAIDs
  • Not taking medicines as directed.

Prevalence of Peptic Ulcer Disease in India

Ages affected:

0-2 years- very rare

3-18 years- rare

19-60+ years- common

According to WHO data, PUD deaths in India have reached 55,560 or 0.63% of total deaths. The age-adjusted mortality rate is 5.58 per 1lac of India's population.

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Shivani Jani

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Shivani Jani
Joined: March 15th, 2019
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