ABSTRACT
Symptoms alone are therefore not adequate to make a firm diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease, and other diagnostic methods are required. Dyspeptic symptoms are often of little help to the physician in making an accurate diagnosis, although symptom scores have been proposed that utilize a combination of symptom items. A firm diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease ultimately rests with visualization of the mucosal defect by radiography or endoscopy. Gastric ulcers are found more than 2 cm proximal to the pylorus while prepyloric ulcers are located within 2 cm of the pylorus. Chronic duodenal and gastric ulcers represent serious medical problems mainly because of their frequency. The efficacy of dual therapy in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection and healing of duodenal and gastric ulcers has been established by several randomized controlled clinical trials. Bismuth/antibiotic combinations can effectively eradicate H. pylori and produce lower ulcer relapse rates.
