ulcer

(noun)

An open sore of the skin, eyes or mucous membrane, often caused by an initial abrasion and generally maintained by an inflammation and/or an infection.

Related Terms

Examples of ulcer in the following topics:

  • Peptic Ulcer Disease

    • A peptic ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease, is an erosion in the wall of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus.
    • A peptic ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease, is an erosion in the wall of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus .
    • Stomach pain is usually the first signal of a peptic ulcer.
    • Also, when severe ulcers resist treatment, particularly if a person has several ulcers or the ulcers are in unusual places, a doctor may suspect an underlying condition that causes the stomach to overproduce acid.
    • This gastric ulcer was found in tissue removed during a gastrectomy.

  • Pressure Ulcers

    • Pressure ulcers, or bedsores, are lesions cause by unrelieved pressure that blocks blood flow to the skin, causing severe illness or death.
    • Pressure ulcers, also known as decubitus ulcers or bedsores, are lesions caused by pressure on soft tissues overlying a bony prominence which reduces or completely obstructs the blood flow to the superficial tissues.
    • Decubitus ulcers have many causes such as unrelieved pressure, friction, humidity, shearing forces, temperature, age, incontinence, and medication.
    • In severe pressure ulcers, the infection may extend into the muscle and the underlying bone.
    • A pressure ulcer displaying exposed bone and possible bone infection (yellow box).

  • Abscesses and Ulcers

    • An abscess is a collection of pus that results from an infectious process, while an ulcer is a break or opening in the mucous membrane.
    • An aphthous ulcer, also known as a canker sore, is a type of mouth ulcer that presents itself as a painful open sore inside the mouth or upper throat, characterized by a break in the mucous membrane.
    • These types of ulcers are not contagious.
    • The exact cause of many aphthous ulcers is unknown, but citrus fruits (e.g. oranges and lemons), physical trauma, stress, lack of sleep, sudden weight loss, food allergies, immune system reactions, and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid may contribute to their development.
    • Many researchers view the causes of aphthous ulcers as a common end product of many different disease processes, each of which is mediated by the immune system.

  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

    • If the NSAID inhibits too much of the COX-1 enzyme, this can lead to the side affect of stomach ulcers, which causes the stomach to bleed.
    • There are some NSAIDs that block the COX-2 enzyme more than the COX-1 enzyme, which prevents the cause of ulcers.
    • Long-term use of NSAIDs can cause gastric erosions, which can become stomach ulcers and in extreme cases can cause severe hemorrhage, resulting in death.

  • Aging and the Digestive System

    • peptic ulcer disease, largely due to weakened immune systems unable to clear the bacterial infection.

  • Exhaustion

    • The result can manifest itself in obvious illnesses such as ulcers, depression, diabetes, trouble with the digestive system, or even cardiovascular problems, along with other mental illnesses.

  • Syphilis

    • The primary stage classically presents itself with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration) as shown in .
    • This chancre is classically a single, firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration with a clean base and sharp borders between 0.3 and 3.0 cm in size.
    • In the classic form, it evolves from a macule to a papule and finally to an erosion or ulcer.

  • Syphilis

    • The primary stage classically presents with a single chancre (a firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration), secondary syphilis with a diffuse rash which frequently involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, latent syphilis with little to no symptoms, and tertiary syphilis with gummas, neurological, or cardiac symptoms.
    • This is classically (40% of the time) a single, firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration with a clean base and sharp borders between 0.3 and 3.0 cm in size.
    • In the classic form, it evolves from a macule to a papule and finally to an erosion or ulcer.

  • Varicose Veins

    • They can often itch, and scratching them can lead to skin ulcers.

  • Deep Wound Healing

    • Additionally, deep wounds are more susceptible to infection, and also to the development of systemic infection through the circulatory system, as well as   dysregulation that results in chronic wounds such as ulcers.