Diagnosis

A doctor can normally tell if you are suffering from a peptic ulcer based on the symptoms that you describe. However, your doctor may decide to perform some tests to distinguish between gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. In addition, your doctor may wish to check that you do not have a more serious problem.

Endoscopy

During an endoscopy, a narrow, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end (fibre optic), is placed into the mouth and throat and then into the stomach and duodenum. This allows the doctor to see if there is any reddening (indicating inflammation) or ulceration on the stomach or duodenal wall. It is also possible to take a small sample (biopsy) of tissue to check for any histological abnormalities. The procedure may be uncomfortable but is not generally painful. You should not need to stay in hospital overnight, but you may need someone else to drive you home.

Helicobacter pylori test

The presence of H. pylori can be detected from: 

• Blood samples – used to test for the presence of antibodies (substances produced by the body to fight infection) to H. pylori. 
  
  
• Urea breath test – H. pylori break down the chemical urea to produce carbon dioxide. In a urea breath test, the patient drinks a solution of urea with a special carbon atom. The test is positive for H. pylori if the special carbon atom is detected in the carbon dioxide which the patient breathes out. 
  
  
• Stool test – The patient’s stools (waste products) can be tested for the presence of H. pylori. 
  
  
• Tissue test – If a sample of tissue is obtained during endoscopy, the tissue can be tested for the presence of H. pylori.