They also can test a sample of your stomach lining. Your doctor also will ask you if you regularly take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines. You cannot prevent an ulcer caused by an H.
However, you can reduce your risks by limiting aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines. Avoid foods that are acidic orange juice and spicy to reduce discomfort. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic medicine to treat an H.
You will have to take it for 2 to 3 weeks. Your doctor also might suggest triple therapy. This is a combination of 2 antibiotics and a protein pump inhibitor PPI. Your doctor might suggest medicines to reduce stomach acids. You may have to take these for up to 8 weeks.
Several other medicines can be used to help treat ulcers. Two types of medicines H2 blockers and PPIs reduce the amount of acid that your stomach makes. Over-the-counter antacid medicine provides temporary relief. Smoking and alcohol make the discomfort worse. In severe cases, you may need surgery. Ulcers get worse without treatment. If aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicine irritates your stomach, your doctor may suggest the medicine, misoprostol.
If you have an ulcer, avoid the things that make your ulcer pain worse. This means to avoid spicy foods, alcohol and smoking. If you have to take aspirin or ibuprofen for chronic pain, talk to your doctor. He or she may suggest an alternative. Keep your diet balanced. This article was contributed by: familydoctor.
Stomach ulcer complications. About stomach ulcers Stomach ulcers gastric ulcers are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach. Symptoms of stomach ulcers Although the most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain in the centre of the abdomen tummy. Some people experience: indigestion heartburn nausea feeling sick You should speak to your GP if you think you have a stomach ulcer. More about the symptoms of a stomach ulcer Get urgent medical advice Speak to your GP immediately or phone the service if: your symptoms persist you're vomiting blood — the blood can appear bright red or have a dark brown, grainy appearance like coffee grounds you're passing dark, sticky, tar-like stools you feel a sudden, sharp pain in your tummy that gets steadily worse These could be a sign of a serious complication.
What causes stomach ulcers? This is usually caused by: an infection with Helicobacter pylori H. More about the causes of stomach ulcers Treating stomach ulcers You'll be treated using antibiotics if your ulcer was caused by a H.
More about treating stomach ulcers Complications Complications are rare but can be very serious and potentially life-threatening. The main complications include: bleeding at the site of the ulcer the stomach lining at the site of the ulcer splits open — known as perforation the ulcer blocks the movement of food through the digestive system — known as gastric obstruction More about the complications of stomach ulcers. Stomach ulcer symptoms The most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain that develops in your abdomen tummy.
Tummy pain The pain caused by a stomach ulcer can either travel: out from the middle of your tummy up to your neck down to your belly button through to your back And: can last from a few minutes to a few hours often starts within a few hours of eating can cause you to wake up during the night Taking antacids indigestion medication may temporarily relieve the pain, but it will keep coming back if the ulcer isn't treated.
Less common symptoms Less common symptoms of a stomach ulcer include: indigestion heartburn loss of appetite feeling and being sick weight loss Some people also find they burp or become bloated after eating fatty foods.
Stomach ulcer causes Stomach ulcers are usually caused by Helicobacter pylori H. More about NSAIDs Lifestyle factors There's little evidence that stomach ulcers are caused by: spicy foods stress alcohol But these can make the symptoms worse. However, smoking can: increase your risk of developing stomach ulcers make treatment less effective. Stomach ulcer diagnosis If your GP thinks you have an ulcer, they will want to know if you're taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs might test you for an Helicobacter pylori H.
Testing for H. Blood test A sample of your blood's tested for antibodies to the H. This test's now largely been replaced by the stool antigen test More about blood tests Gastroscopy A gastroscopy is a procedure that involves passing a thin, flexible tube an endoscope with a camera at one end into your mouth and down into your stomach and first section of the small intestine duodenum.
You may: be given a mild sedative injection before the procedure have your throat sprayed with a local anaesthetic to make it more comfortable to pass the endoscope The images taken by the camera will usually confirm or rule out an ulcer. You may have a repeat gastroscopy after 4 to 6 weeks to check that the ulcer's healed. Stomach ulcer treatment If you have a stomach ulcer, your treatment will depend on what caused it.
With treatment, most ulcers heal in a month or two. Treating Helicobacter pylori H. Antibiotics If you have an H. The most commonly used antibiotics are: amoxicillin clarithromycin metronidazole You should take these twice a day for a week.
Side effects The side effects of these are usually mild, but can include: feeling and being sick diarrhoea a metallic taste in your mouth Further testing You'll be re-tested at least 4 weeks after finishing your antibiotic course to see if there are any H. Low-dose aspirin If you're taking low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of blood clots, your GP will tell you whether you need to keep taking it.
Read more about the complications of stomach ulcers Proton pump inhibitors PPIs PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. The most commonly used PPIs are: omeprazole pantoprazole lansoprazole They're usually prescribed for 4 to 8 weeks. Side effects Side effects of these are usually mild, but can include: headaches diarrhoea or constipation feeling sick abdominal tummy pain dizziness rashes These should pass once treatment has been completed.
H2-receptor antagonists Sometimes a type of medication called H2-receptor antagonists are used instead of PPIs. These also reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. Ranitidine is the most widely used H2-receptor antagonist for treating stomach ulcers. Side effects Side effects are uncommon, but can include: diarrhoea headaches dizziness rashes tiredness Antacids and alginates As these treatments can take several hours before they start to work, your GP may recommend taking additional antacid medication.
Antacids: neutralise your stomach acid provide immediate, but short-term, symptom relief should be taken when you experience symptoms or when you expect them, such as after meals or at bedtime Some antacids also contain a medicine called an alginate, which produces a protective coating on the lining of your stomach.
Side effects Side effects of both medications are usually mild, but can include: diarrhoea or constipation wind flatulence stomach cramps feeling and being sick Lifestyle changes There aren't any special lifestyle measures you need to take during treatment. Stomach ulcer complications Complications of stomach ulcers are rare, but can be very serious. The main complications are: internal bleeding perforation - the lining of the stomach splits open gastric outlet obstruction - the stomach ulcer obstructs the normal passage of food through your digestive system Internal bleeding Internal bleeding's the most common complication of stomach ulcers.
The bleeding can either be slow and long-term, or rapid and severe. Slow, long-term bleeding Slow, long-term bleeding can lead to anaemia. Symptoms of anaemia include: fatigue breathlessness pale skin heart palpitations noticeable heartbeats You should visit your GP if you have persistent symptoms of anaemia. More about anaemia Severe bleeding Contact your GP or the NHS 24 service immediately if you have symptoms of more severe bleeding, including: you're vomiting blood — the blood can appear bright red or have a dark brown, grainy appearance like coffee grounds you're passing dark, sticky, tar-like stools Stopping severe bleeding An endoscopy will be used to identify the cause of the bleeding.
Sometimes: specialised procedures carried out under X-ray guidance are used to stop bleeding ulcers surgery is needed to repair the affected blood vessel Blood transfusions may also be needed to replace the blood you've lost.
Perforation Perforations are a rarer complication of stomach ulcers. Peritonitis In peritonitis, an infection can rapidly spread into the blood sepsis before spreading to other organs. If you have this type of pain, contact your GP or the NHS 24 service immediately Peritonitis is a medical emergency that requires hospital admission.
Gastric outlet obstruction In some cases, an inflamed swollen or scarred stomach ulcer can obstruct the normal passage of food through your digestive system. Symptoms include: vomiting large amounts of undigested food a constant feeling of bloating or fullness feeling more full than usual after eating less food unexplained weight loss Treating a gastric outlet obstruction An endoscopy can be used to confirm the obstruction.
If ulcers are interfering with your normal daily activities, or have persisted for 2 weeks, see your dentist or an oral medicine specialist. A biopsy is a procedure where a tissue sample is taken for examination and diagnosis. Most mouth ulcers are usually harmless and resolve by themselves within 10 to 14 days. Other types of mouth ulcers, such as the aphthous variety or those caused by herpes simplex infection, need topical treatment such as a mouthwash, ointment or gel.
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Most cleft palates and cleft lips can be repaired so that appearance and speech develop normally. Cold sores are blisters around the mouth and nose, caused by the herpes simplex virus. Discoloured, chipped or missing teeth can affect self-confidence but cosmetic dentistry techniques can help. Dental anxiety is common, but there are ways to help you manage it. Talk to your dentist about which strategies are right for you. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Mouth and teeth. Home Mouth and teeth. Mouth ulcers. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What are mouth ulcers? Aphthous ulcers Mouth ulcers that won't heal Symptoms of mouth ulcers Causes of mouth ulcers When to seek treatment for mouth ulcers Treatment for mouth ulcers Prevention of mouth ulcers Where to get help.
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