What is Duodenal Bulb Erosion and How to Deal with It?

Duodenal bulb erosion is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This specific bacterium secretes various toxins to destroy the gastric mucosa, causing chronic inflammation and a series of symptoms. It is recommended to seek timely treatment, preferably with quadruple therapy (including proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole or pantoprazole, bismuth subcitrate or bismuth potassium citrate, combined with two antibiotics, typically a combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole) to avoid delaying the condition.

If the symptoms are relatively mild, severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms may occur. Simultaneously, patients may also experience a burning sensation in the stomach and symptoms of indigestion, which often intensify after eating. If the duodenal bulb erosion is severe or even complicated by ulcers, symptoms such as muscle tension and rigidity of the abdomen may appear, and in severe cases, massive bleeding may be induced.

For duodenal bulb erosion, it is recommended to undergo carbon-14 and carbon-13 breath tests to monitor the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If the test is positive, quadruple therapy is recommended for treatment. Commonly used medications include proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, and esomeprazole. Gastric mucosal protectants such as compound bismuth subaluminate granules, bismuth pectin, aluminum phosphate gel, and sucralfate are also used. The application of two antibiotics, commonly chosen as amoxicillin, tinidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin hydrochloride, furazolidone, tetracycline, etc., is also recommended. The antibiotics should be used in combination, and the recommended course of treatment is two weeks.

If the Helicobacter pylori infection test is negative, only gastric mucosal protectants combined with proton pump inhibitors are needed for treatment. If the patient agrees, traditional Chinese medicine can also be used for oral treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine has good curative effects on stomach diseases and duodenal bulb erosion.