A Study of Treatment and Management Procedures of Peptic Ulcers in Hospitals in Bushenyi District

ABSTRACT

Peptic ulcers is one of the common diseases affecting both men and women. It is a non racial worldwide disorder which has no significant preference rate for sex, season or culture. Most estimates suggest that between 5% and I 0% of the general population will develop a peptic ulcer during their lifetime. Peptic ulcer bleeding is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. A cross sectional prospective and descriptive study was carried out the in three hospitals located Bushenyi district, western Uganda to study management and treatment procedures of peptic ulcers disease. The data was collected by use of self-administered questionnaires consisting of both open and close ended questions which was subjected to analysis using SPSS and EPI-info. The goals of management are to control any active bleeding and prevent re-bleeding and then to heal the ulcer and prevent its recurrence. Initial management strategies are guided by the patient's clinical condition and endoscopic findings. Thus, treatment may consist of endoscopic and medical therapy and, sometimes, surgery. Control of acid secretion, preferably with proton pump inhibitor therapy in the initial management continues to evolve; it has also been used as both an adjunct to endoscopic therapy and as primary treatment. The long-term management of patients with peptic ulcer, after the initial bleeding episode, should include patient stratification based upon risk factors for ulcer recurrence (i.e. Helicobacter pylori infection, use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Elimination or modification of these risk factors reduces the risk of ulcer recurrence and, hence, of recurrent ulcer bleeding.

KEY WORDS: Peptic ulcel"s, effective management, endoscopy thempy, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors