Peptic Ulcers

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Medical Author:

Michael W Stratemeier, MD

Coauthor:

Lisa Vignogna, MD

Medical Editor:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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• Peptic Ulcers Overview
• Peptic Ulcers Causes
• Peptic Ulcers Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Peptic Ulcer Diagnosis
• Peptic Ulcer Treatment
• Peptic Ulcers Self-Care at Home
• Peptic Ulcers Medical Treatment
• Peptic Ulcer Medications
• Peptic Ulcers Surgery
• Peptic Ulcer Follow-up
• Peptic Ulcer Prevention
• Peptic Ulcer Prognosis
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Peptic Ulcers from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Peptic Ulcers - Symptoms

In the digestive system, an ulcer is an area where tissue has been destroyed by gastric juices and stomach acid. Peptic ulcer disease is a general term for ulcers that occur in the stomach or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine).

• A peptic ulcer is an erosion or sore in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.
• The mucous membrane lining the digestive tract erodes and causes a gradual breakdown of tissue.
• This breakdown causes a gnawing or burning pain in the upper middle part of the belly (abdomen).
• Although most peptic ulcers are small, they can cause a considerable amount of discomfort.

Peptic ulcers are a very common condition in the United States and throughout the world.

• In the United States, about 10% of the population will develop a duodenal ulcer at some point in their lives.
• Peptic ulcer disease affects about 4.6 million people annually.
• The occurrence of peptic ulcer disease is similar in men and women. Approximately 11%-14% of men and 8%-11% of women will develop peptic ulcer disease in their lifetime.
• The mortality rate for peptic ulcer disease is approximately one death per 10,000 cases. The mortality rate due to ulcer hemorrhage is approximately 5%.

Ulcers can occur at any age, although they are rare in children and teenagers.

The good news is that we have learned a lot about ulcers in the past 20 years and effective therapies are now available.

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