Peptic ulcer, often known as a peptic ulcer disease, is a painful condition of the abdomen resulting in mucosal erosion of the gastrointestinal tract usually by excessive acid (consult, 2007) these erosions can only be categorized as peptic ulcers if they are larger than 0.5cm in diameter. Peptic ulcers can be classified according to the location where they appear hence the ulcers occurring in the duodenum are known as duodenal ulcers, those occurring in the stomach are known as gastric ulcers and those in esophagus are known as esophageal ulcers. The causes of peptic ulcers majorly include special spiral bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori which produces excessive acid in the gastrointestinal tract and makes its mucosa eroded. Helicobacter pylori are responsible for at least 70-90% of peptic ulcers although only 40% of these cases are reported to the doctors. Another well-known cause of peptic ulcers is the excessive usage of NSAIDS as pain killers and other uses. Peptic ulcer presents with the general symptoms of abdominal pain and bloating and maybe accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting and melena in stool. These symptoms can also lead to more serious complications like gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, penetration and even cancer. A unique relationship of ulcers with stress has also been observed by recent researchers. The diagnosis of peptic ulcers is mainly made on clinical symptoms and although specialized tests are available but are rarely used except in special circumstances. The treatment of peptic ulcers most popularly includes the antacids and H2 antagonists. Antibiotics are recommended when H.pylori also accompanies the situation.

A brief summary of all these details regarding peptic ulcers is given below:

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Humans have a 10% of lifetime chance of developing a peptic ulcer

Third world countries have a high prevalence of peptic ulcers where as in the West the prevalence population pretty much matches the ages. For example the prevalence of peptic ulcers in 30-year-olds is 30%.

The mortality and morbidity have been greatly affected by peptic ulcers in the last few decades as they have shown a sharp...

This decrease in incidence is most probably due to development of new and improved drugs to control the condition and also development and research into its causative agents.
The prevalence population of Peptic ulcer in the U.S.A. is almost 4 million. Each year the number of people diagnosed with peptic ulcer is almost 300,000. Duodenal ulcer is 4 times more common than the gastric ulcer and peptic ulcer account for almost 2900 deaths every year (Kurata JH, 1984).

ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS

The following causes have been implicated as the causes of peptic ulcers:

1. Helicobacter pylori: this is the most major etiological factor of peptic ulcers and accounts for the majority of duodenal ulcers. Helicobacter pylori are a type of spiral bacteria that infects the gastric mucosa and elicits a chronic infection causing the mucosa to erode. Although the immune system of the body produces antibodies against the bacteria yet it is unable to completely clear the infection. This chronic infection in turn stimulates excessive gastric secretions from the mucosa causing the mucosa to erode in effect to such secretions

2. NSAIDS: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are a famous drug used for many symptoms likes pain and headaches. The excessive use of these medications is now on the rise for being a major causative factor for peptic ulcers. The gastric mucosa prevents itself from the harmful effects of the gastric secretions by production of layer of mucus over it. The natural hormones known as prostaglandins are responsible for stimulating the production of this mucus layer. However drugs like NSAIDS suppress the production of these prostaglandins that in return decrease the protection of the gastric mucosa to the gastric secretions and making it vulnerable to development of peptic ulcers.

3. Stress: although physiologic stress has always been known to cause peptic ulcers recently it has also been proved that psychological stress is also a major cause of peptic ulcers. The Academy of Behavioral Medicine and Research has concluded that psychological stress is a significant factor…