what is an ulcer
What is an Ulcer
This article is an in-depth analysis of the causes and symptoms of the different types of ulcers and their treatments. Read on...
An ulcer is an open wound or breakage in the tissue of the skin, the mucous membranes or the lining of the stomach and intestines. The most common form of ulcer is stomach ulcer, otherwise known as peptic ulcer. It is generally caused due to infection by a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. An ulcer is generally the result of an injury or infection in the concerned tissue. However, ulcers might also be a symptom of underlying causes such as deficiency of nutrients in the diet. Even a cancerous growth in the tissue can manifest itself as an ulcer. Thus, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the various forms of the disease, to be able to prevent its occurrence. Here's a list of the causes and symptoms of ulcers affecting different parts of the body.
Types of Ulcers
Ulcers can affect parts of the body like mouth, skin and eyes, and internal organs like stomach, intestines and veins. Ulcers affecting different organs, are known by different names. Also, each one has a different set of causes and symptoms. Let us go through each one of these in detail.
Mouth Ulcer
It is a result of damage or injury to the inner lining of the mouth, which leads to painful sores and wounds. Sores appearing on the tongue are termed as tongue ulcers. Ulcers of the mouth usually do not need any medications as they heal by themselves, within a few days after they appear.
Causes
Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, are most often caused by physical injury to the mucous membrane of the inner parts of the cheek and the gums. Given below are its causes.
- Biting accidentally
- Improper brushing
- Braces or dentures
- Reaction to certain drugs
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Deficiency of vitamin C
Peptic Ulcer
An ulcer affecting the lining of the walls of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine, is termed as peptic or gastric ulcer. Usually it affects the innermost layer or mucosa of the stomach. If, in rare cases, it affects the outer layers, it is termed as perforation.
Causes
Infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, is the most common cause. This bacterial infection damages the membranous lining of the stomach. They are also believed to be caused by excessive stress. In addition to the causes discussed, there are certain factors that increase the risk of peptic ulcers. These include too much smoking and drinking, and exposure to radiation.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is a burning sensation in the abdomen. Following are a few more often reported symptoms -
- Severe pain in the abdominal region
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Blood in the feces
Skin Ulcer
Any open sore on the skin that does not heal easily is an ulcer. According to dermatologists, ulcer of the skin occurs in six stages.
Causes
Skin ulcers are the result of infections caused by microorganisms, skin cancer and poor blood circulation, especially in the extremities. Ulcers caused by poor blood circulation are a result of damaged valves in the veins. However, they are also seen in patients with high blood glucose levels. Pressure-induced skin ulcers or bedsores are seen in patients who are in a prolonged vegetative state, or who are bound to a wheelchair. In diabetics, wounds that remain untreated for a long time turn into ulcers.
Symptoms
The symptoms, as observed in the six stages, are as under -
- Stage 1: Mild reddening of the skin
- Stage 2: Increased redness accompanied by blisters
- Stage 3: Death of cells of the outer layers of the skin, exposing the layer of adipose tissue beneath. This is termed as necrosis.
- Stage 4: Spread of infection to the deeper layers of the skin, destroying the layer of adipose tissue, and exposing the muscle tissue beneath
- Stage 5: Spread of infection to the muscle tissues
- Stage 6: Spread of ulceration to the bones and joints
Corneal Ulcer
It is characterized by an open sore on the cornea, the transparent outer covering of the eye. It is otherwise known as ulcerative keratitis.
Causes
It is mainly a result of infections. Some of the major causes of corneal ulcer are as follows -
Complications of Ulcers
Now that we are aware of the ulcers affecting different parts of the body, let us have a thorough understanding of the possible complications that may arise due to an ulcer that is left untreated or turns severe.
- Infection by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas, Enterococci, etc.
- Viral infections caused by Herpes virus
- Infection by Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus and other fungi
- Physical injuries that cause scratches on the cornea
- Use of contact lenses for extended periods
- Dry eye syndrome
- If the initial symptoms of corneal ulcer are ignored, it may lead to partial or complete loss of vision, i.e., blindness.
- In diabetics, severe form of skin ulcers can result in permanent damage to the peripheral nerves. This is termed as neuropathy.
- Excessive bleeding from the damaged blood vessels in the lining of the stomach, may result in anemia.
- The infection from an untreated mouth ulcer may spread to the teeth, resulting in tooth abscess.