Peptic ulcer is basically a lesion located at the level of the stomach, duodenum or esophagus. Ulcer tends to affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, starting from the lining of the mouth and ending with the rectal region. Peptic ulcer suggests the involvement of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the development of the disorder. When gastric acid is produced in excess, the mucosal membrane that protects the stomach and internal organs from danger is damaged, enabling the bacteria Helicobacter pylori to penetrate the barrier and cause internal infections. Therefore, in the case of peptic ulcer, both gastric acid and bacteria are responsible for the development of the disorder.
Peptic ulcer located in the stomach is called gastric ulcer; peptic ulcer located at the level of the duodenum is called duodenal ulcer and peptic ulcer developed at the level of the esophagus is called esophageal ulcer.
Peptic ulcer is very common, millions of Americans being diagnosed with different forms of the disorder each year. The advance of modern medicine has allowed scientists to find out more valuable information about these disorders, enabling them to develop new medical...