Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer: Introduction
Symptoms of peptic ulcer can vary depending on the individual. Symptoms can be mild to severe.
Typical symptoms include epigastric pain, and burning in the upper abdomen. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and pain between the shoulder blades in the back. The pain of a peptic ulcer often begins about two hours after eating and also occurs at night. Eating more food or taking an antacid often decreases or relieves the pain.
Complications of peptic ulcer include the development of a perforated peptic ulcer, which can bleed. Symptoms of a perforated peptic ulcer include blood in the vomit (hematemesis) and black tarry stools (melana). A bleeding perforated peptic ulcer is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency.
Bleeding from a peptic ulcer can result in anemia. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, and light-headedness. Severe bleeding (hemorrhage) can result in shock and death.
If a peptic ulcer gets deep enough to go through the stomach wall, stomach contents may spill into the abdominal cavity, resulting in a serious complication called peritonitis.
Peptic ulcers that have left scars can result in the develoment of a complication called pyloric stenosis. Symptoms of pyloric stenosis include projectile vomiting immediately after a meal.
Bloody stools, tarry black stools (melana), and vomiting blood can be symptoms of serious, even life-threatening diseases and conditions. These symptoms are a medical emergency that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting....more about Peptic Ulcer »
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Peptic Ulcer includes the 17
symptoms listed below:
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Peptic Ulcer: Symptom Checkers
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Peptic Ulcer: Symptom Assessment Questionnaires
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Peptic Ulcer: Complications
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Do I have Peptic Ulcer?
Peptic Ulcer: Medical Mistakes
Peptic Ulcer: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Peptic Ulcer:
- Colon & Rectal Cancer: Home Testing
- Food Allergies & Intolerances: Home Testing:
- Digestive-Related Home Testing:
- more home tests...»
Wrongly Diagnosed with Peptic Ulcer?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Peptic Ulcer includes:
See the full list of 30
Peptic Ulcer: Research Doctors & Specialists
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Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer:
Abdominal discomfort is the most common symptom.
This discomfort usually
- is a dull, gnawing ache.
- comes and goes for several days or weeks.
- occurs 2 to 3 hours after a meal.
- occurs in the middle of the night (when the stomach is
- is relieved by food.
- is relieved by antacid medications.
- weight loss
- poor appetite
Some people experience only very mild symptoms, or
none at all.
Emergency SymptomsIf you have any of these symptoms, call
your doctor right away:
They could be signs of a serious problem,
- sharp, sudden, persistent stomach pain
- bloody or black stools
- bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee
- perforation--when the ulcer burrows through the stomach or
- bleeding--when acid or the ulcer breaks a blood
- obstruction--when the ulcer blocks the path of food trying to
leave the stomach.
(Source: excerpt from H_ pylori and Peptic Ulcer: NIDDK
Peptic Ulcer as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Peptic Ulcer, it is also important to consider Peptic Ulcer as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Peptic Ulcer may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Peptic Ulcer:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Peptic Ulcer.
This signs and symptoms information for Peptic Ulcer has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Peptic Ulcer signs or Peptic Ulcer symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Peptic Ulcer may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Peptic Ulcer symptoms.