Patients may therefore require blood tests, stool analysis, and x-ray or endoscopic studies before a diagnosis of IBS can be assured. Fortunately, IBS is not life-threatening. Treatment may require dietary adjustments, stress management, or antispasmodic medications. Peptic Ulcer Disease Injury to the mucosa of the upper gastrointestinal tract spans a spectrum from mild irritation to severe ulceration with hemorrhage or perforation. H.pylori can be diagnosed via blood tests, breath tests, or directly by examination of mucosal biopsy specimens obtained during endoscopy.
Treatment usually requires a two week course of powerful antibiotics and anti-ulcer medication.
These medicines, related to aspirin, inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in the mucosa which is needed to maintain mucosal integrity. Ulceration may be without symptoms, or associated with gnawing upper abdominal pain, early fullness with meals, nausea, or black tarry stools indicative of upper GI bleeding. Diagnosis is best made by upper GI endoscopy, which can also be used to cauterize ulcers that are bleeding. At least 2 months of an H2-blocker or PPI drug are needed to heal these ulcers. Like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bowel which often first occurs in childhood and young adulthood.