Figure 1 Stomach ulcer. The ulcer (centre) is sharply defined and contains tissue debris and inflammatory secretions. ×1
MEDIMAGE/SPL
If you have a burning or gnawing pain in your stomach that gets worse 15–20 minutes after eating a meal, you may have a gastric ulcer (see Figure 1). Gastric ulcers are common — it has been estimated that 50% of the world’s population will suffer from gastric ulcers at some time in their lives. As many as 90% of the population can be affected in developing countries where sanitation is poor. It is now well established that gastric ulcers are caused by infection of the stomach lining by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori.
Gastric ulcer
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