Duodenal ulcer or Duodenal ulcers are open sores that appear on the wall of the duodenum, which is the beginning of the small intestine. Injuries to the intestines of the 12 fingers can cause heartburn to vomiting blood.
Duodenal ulcers or sores in the duodenum are not caused by smoking, stress, or eating spicy foods, but because of long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or bacterial infections Helicobacter pylori.
Although not caused by spicy food, smoking, or stress, these three things can make this condition worse and make the wound difficult to heal.
Duodenal Ulcer Symptoms
The main symptom of a duodenal ulcer is heartburn. Heartburn occurs occasionally, especially when the stomach is empty. In addition to heartburn, other symptoms that can appear in patients with duodenal ulcers are:
- Bloated
- Weak
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning feeling in the pit of the stomach to the chest (heartburn)
- Decreased appetite
- It's hard to breathe
When to go to the doctor
See a doctor immediately if you feel the above symptoms, especially if they are accompanied by dangerous symptoms, such as:
- Vomiting blood
- bloody CHAPTER
- CHAPTER is black like asphalt
- Drastic weight loss
Causes of Duodenal Ulcers
Duodenal ulcers are caused by two things, namely Helicobacter pylori infection (H. pylori) and long-term consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Examples of NSAIDs are:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Diclofenac
- Mefenamic acid
- Piroxicam
- Meloxicam
Infection H. pylori and long-term consumption of NSAIDs will cause the protection of the intestinal wall to be disturbed, so that this part of the intestine is prone to irritation and injury.
Not only NSAIDs, there are several other drugs that can cause duodenal ulcers, including corticosteroids, fluorouracil, and bisphosphonates.
In addition, duodenal ulcers can also be caused by a disease, such as Zoolinger-Ellison syndrome, gastric cancer, lung cancer, and acute diseases, such as stroke or lung infection.
There are several factors that can make the condition of a duodenal ulcer worse or become difficult to heal, including:
- Over 70 years old
- Have you ever had a duodenal ulcer or gastric ulcer?
- Under stress
- Likes to eat spicy food
- Have a smoking habit
- Alcohol addiction
Duodenal Ulcer Diagnosis
To determine the cause of the patient's complaints, the doctor will first ask for a medical history and perform a physical examination. If you suspect a duodenal ulcer, the doctor will perform further tests in the form of:
Stool examination
To determine the presence of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, the doctor may request a occult blood test, by taking a sample of the patient's stool.
X-ray of the esophagus, stomach and intestines 12 fingers
This examination will show an image of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, with the help of x-rays. During the examination, the patient will be asked to swallow a special liquid containing barium, so that the wound can be seen more clearly.
Gastrocopy
In a gastroscopy procedure, a small tube with a camera will be inserted through the esophagus to the duodenum, to see firsthand the condition of the digestive tract. If needed, the doctor will take a tissue sample for analysis in the laboratory. The point is to find out the cause of the wound more accurately.
To determine the cause of duodenal ulcer, especially to confirm infection H. pylorry, An inspection will be carried out which includes:
- blood test, to check for antibodies that appear due to infection pylori.
- Stool test, to check the growth of bacteria pylori in the stool for several days.
- Urea breath test (urea breath test), to detect the presence of certain carbon dioxide gas in the breath, if there is an infection pylori. Before the examination, the patient will be asked to swallow a special pill made from urea.
Duodenal Ulcer Treatment
Duodenal ulcer treatment is given according to the cause and severity. If the duodenal ulcer is caused by a bacterial infection H. pylori, the doctor will give a special combination of drugs for at least one week, to kill these germs.
After the treatment is complete, the doctor will make sure the infection is clear by doing a re-examination of the infection H. pylori. If the bacterial infection is still there, the doctor will repeat combination therapy with a different antibiotic.
If the duodenal ulcer is caused by long-term NSAID use, the drugs to be given are:
- Drugs to neutralize stomach acid, namely antacids.
- Drug for reduce stomach acid production, such as lansoprazole or omeprazole.
- Drugs that protect the intestinal surface of the 12 fingers, such as sucralfate.
The drug will be consumed for several weeks so that the wound does not form again.
Another option for the treatment of duodenal ulcers is surgery, but it is only done for severe duodenal ulcers, where the lining of the duodenum has perforated.
Duodenal Ulcer Complications
If a duodenal ulcer is left untreated, complications can occur such as:
Anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding
This bleeding causes the patient to lose blood, causing anemia. If the bleeding occurs suddenly in large quantities, the patient can go into shock. In this condition, the patient needs to be hospitalized and get a blood transfusion.
Lscars on the digestive tract
These ulcers or sores can cause the duodenum to become inflamed, swollen, and form scars. These scars will block the passage of food, which can lead to complaints of easy satiety, vomiting, and weight loss.
Infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis)
Ulcers can cause a hole in the wall of the intestine 12 fingers, so that the contents of the intestine out into the abdominal cavity. This discharge of intestinal contents causes a serious infection of the abdominal cavity called peronitis.
Duodenal Ulcer Prevention
There are several steps that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of duodenal ulcers and the worsening of this disease, namely:
- Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and ask if there are drugs that can replace them.
- Take NSAIDs after meals.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat vitamin-rich foods, such as vegetables, nuts, and fruits.
- Get enough sleep.
- Quit smoking.
- Manage stress well, and if necessary, consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.