Most stools are only slightly pinkish-yellow, but there are a number of stool discolourations that may be seen with gastrointestinal hemorrhage; these should prompt urgent medical investigation.
Gastrointestinal ulcer is a common condition. It is often associated with low plasma glutathione levels. Gastrointestinal ulcers might be treated, with a high rate (60%) of healing rate after 6-month treatment with vitamin C (0.5 g). Patients may also benefit from prokinetics (such as metoclopramide). Patients with aspirin-related ulcer should not be treated, as this might trigger GI bleeding"
Signs of ulcer include loss of appetite, nausea, frequent vomiting and diarrhoea. Gastric ulcer usually presents with pain and occasional dark stools. Peptic ulcer usually presents with vomiting or upper abdominal pain and may sometimes be associated with bloody diarrhea. Diarrhoea may lead to dehydration and loss of fluid through vomiting and watery diarrhea. Malabsorption can lead to loose stools, weight loss and anaemia (with iron deficiency being the most common cause). In inflammatory bowel disease, symptoms tend to develop over weeks, months or years. In sarcoidosis, a long-standing chronic inflammatory reaction is seen in the lungs.
The cause is multifactorial and includes ulcerative factors, stress components, and other contributing factors. Some risk factors have been implicated but their relative roles in the development of ulcers remain in question.
About 2 million Americans are hospitalized annually for upper GI-related reasons. The majority are ulcerative. Younger adults are most obviously affected. Most upper GI ulcer is attributable to habits or lifestyle, which vary widely from country to country.
It seems that the risk factors such as age, smoking, alcohol, low socioeconomic status, high BMI, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia influences the development of ulcer in different areas of Saudi Arabia. The control of these risk factors will prevent the occurrence of ulcer and its complications.
Side effects of fmt are common, however may be managed with simple measures. Side effects can be anticipated by the choice of recipients, such as in the case of severe immunocompromised patients.
A growing population of patients has developed an increased frequency of advanced ulcer due to more prolonged periods of good or good-to-excellent nutrition. Such individuals are especially at risk for developing more refractory lesions as time progresses.
Fmt treatment of steroid-treated [ulcerative colitis](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/ulcerative-colitis) is safe and effective. Fmt has a higher rate of remission than observation. With steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis, in whom colonoscopy is ineffective or contraindicated, Fmt seems to control this disease with no side effects.
FMT is associated with significantly fewer AEs than no intervention and achieves significant reduction in AEs compared with antibiotics. FMT appears to be safe, with no adverse effects observed to date. Future studies are needed to evaluate long-term efficacy of fmt.
Results from a recent clinical trial demonstrated that the improvement of fecal permeability and stool frequency were substantial and that fmt is a feasible and safe therapy for the improvement of ulcer-related QOL.
Acid has been established as the predominant bacterial cause of uncomplicated ulcer. It has not yet been proven to be the primary cause of simple ulcer for whom the acid theory is not applicable. When acid is suspected, it should be tested in both the presence and absence of ulcer. If acid is found in the presence of ulcer then acid is the definite aetiology. When acid is absent there appear to be other causes in uncomplicated ulcer.