In:
Digestive Diseases, S. Karger AG, Vol. 26, No. 3 ( 2008), p. 210-214
Kurzfassung:
Dyspepsia is defined as a chronic or recurrent pain centered in the upper abdomen. Dyspeptic symptoms have a high prevalence in the population and represent a common reason for patients to see a primary care physician. Therefore, dyspepsia displays a major health care burden and produces high socioeconomic costs. The etiology of dyspeptic symptoms is various and complex and has opened a wide spectrum of putative mechanisms. In a subset of patients dyspeptic symptoms are likely to originate from 〈 i 〉 Helicobacter pylori 〈 /i 〉 infection. Population-based studies have demonstrated that 〈 i 〉 H. pylori 〈 /i 〉 is detected more frequently in dyspeptic patients compared to controls. 〈 i 〉 H. pylori 〈 /i 〉 eradication therapy gives modest but significant benefit in non-ulcer dyspepsia and leads to long-term symptom improvement. It also reduces the risk of developing peptic ulcer disease and other 〈 i 〉 H. pylori 〈 /i 〉 -related gastric pathologies (i.e. atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer). The main therapeutic strategy for managing dyspepsia in patients under the age of 45 years is ‘test and treat’. 〈 i 〉 H. pylori 〈 /i 〉 eradication is recommended in patients with dyspepsia and no other gastroduodenal abnormalities than 〈 i 〉 H. pylori 〈 /i 〉 induced gastritis. In patients presenting with alarm features a prompt upper endoscopy should be performed to exclude peptic ulcer disease, esophageal and gastric malignancies or other more rare upper gastrointestinal diseases.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0257-2753
,
1421-9875
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
S. Karger AG
Publikationsdatum:
2008
ZDB Id:
1482221-0
