It sets off an acute inflammation of the peritoneum (peritonitis), a very painful condition accompanied by vomiting and a racing pulse rate. The abdomen then becomes swollen and tight like a board. The patient’s life will be in danger and he must be hospitalised without delay. Provided his general health is good and he is treated by a skilful surgeon, he has a good chance of pulling through.
It is possible for peptic ulcers to grow to the point where they eventually affect other organs, endangering particularly the pancreas, possibly even the liver and the transverse colon. Simple gastric ulcers are generally associated with a high acid content in the stomach, and the patient may experience belching or a sour-tasting regurgitation. If ulcers are not properly treated they may turn to cancer.
A malignant ulcer is more difficult to diagnose, since it is not normally accompanied by pain and thus not often detected until a later stage. Experience shows that malignancy is almost always connected with a lack of gastric acid, whereas a simple ulcer develops in a hyperacid condition.
*399/28/1*
