Duodenitis is an intestinal condition caused by inflammation in the lining of your duodenum. It can sometimes happen along with gastritis, which is inflammation in your stomach lining. When they happen together, they are called gastroduodenitis.
What Is the Duodenum?
The duodenum is the upper part of your small intestine that’s located just past your stomach. This part of your digestive tract is responsible for breaking down and digesting your food.
It receives chyme — a semifluid ball of partially digested food fibers — from your stomach and breaks it down with enzymes and intestinal juices. These enzymes and juices are secreted from your gallbladder, liver, and pancreas into your intestine.
The duodenum also releases hormones to help with digestion. These include:
Secretin. Itneutralizes acid in the duodenum by telling your body to move sodium bicarbonate and water into the intestine to raise the pH level.
This is important for pancreatic enzymes that are released into the duodenum, as they need the right pH level to help digest starches and fats.
Cholecystokinin. This hormone is released when you eat protein and fat. Protein digestion happens in your stomach, so this hormone stops your stomach from emptying too soon. It also stimulates your gallbladder to release bile, which helps break down fats into fatty acids.
As the food is digested, vitamins and nutrients are taken up by your blood vessels through your small intestine and into other organs, where they are converted into usable forms for your body.
Most nutrient absorption happens in another part of your small intestine called the jejunum, but iron is absorbed in the duodenum.
Inflammation in the lining of your duodenum can cause digestive problems and affect how you absorb nutrients from your food.
Duodenitis Symptoms
Sometimes, people have duodenitis without any symptoms. Other people have digestive symptoms such as:
- Feeling full soon after eating
- Gas
- Bloating
- Feeling sick
- Throwing up
- Cramping
- Burning
- Iron deficiency anemia
Severe cases of duodenitis can cause sores in the lining called ulcers. This is sometimes called peptic duodenitis.
What Causes Duodenitis?
There are a few causes of duodenitis.
Infection. The most common cause of duodenitis is a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Most people have H. pylori in the stomach. You usually pick up this bacteria as a child and carry it for the rest of your life.
Sometimes it can get out of balance and cause infections and disease, usually a peptic stomach ulcer. The bacteria can move out of the stomach and reach your duodenum, causing peptic ulcers here, too.
Overusing pain medications. Using too many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen can cause ulcers, bleeding, and duodenitis.
Alcohol and smoking. Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and chewing betel quid are all linked to ulcers and duodenitis.
Celiac disease. This autoimmune disease causes your body to make immune proteins against gluten, a protein in wheat. If you have celiac disease and eat gluten, parts of your intestine will become inflamed and damaged, which can cause duodenitis.
Stomach acid. Your stomach acid helps with digestion by creating the right pH for other enzymes to work. If you have too much stomach acid, you can get heartburn and ulcers.
Too much stomach acid can also end up in your duodenum, which can cause inflammation in the lining.
Other intestinal diseases. Other diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are also associated with duodenitis.
Duodenitis Diagnosis
If your doctor thinks you have duodenitis, they will do some imaging tests and blood tests. These can include:
- Upper endoscopy, which uses a camera that goes down your throat and into your duodenum to take biopsies to check for the presence of H. pylori
- Stool tests to check for other infections
- Blood tests to test for celiac disease
- Upper gastrointestinal series, which uses X-ray tests to examine your upper digestive tract
- Breathing tests to check for H. pylori
How Is Duodenitis Treated?
Treatment for duodenitis depends on the cause. Your doctor might prescribe:
- Antibiotics
- Antacids
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Stopping NSAIDs
- Stopping smoking
- Drinking less alcohol
- Eating a gluten-free diet
If you take NSAIDs for heart problems, talk to your doctor before you stop taking them. If you take them for pain, talk to your doctor about different options.
Complications of Duodenitis
At times, duodenitis can cause other serious problems such as bleeding. If you have any of the following signs, get medical help right away:
- Throwing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tarry stool
- Severe stomach pain
- Fast weight loss
- Pain that doesn’t get better
- Fever
Generally, duodenitis gets better with treatment, so talk to your doctor if your gut is bothering you.
Takeaways
Duodenitis is an intestinal condition caused by inflammation in the lining of your duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of your digestive tract that’s responsible for breaking down and digesting your food.
Symptoms can include digestive problems such as bloating, gas, and cramping.
Treatment options for duodenitis might include antibiotics, antacids, or proton pump inhibitors. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and drinking alcohol might help ease symptoms as well.
Duodenitis FAQs
How is duodenitis different from a duodenal ulcer?
Duodenitis is inflammation of the lining that protects the duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine. A duodenal ulcer is a complication of duodenitis. These ulcers are open sores that can form when duodenitis damages the duodenal lining. They can cause pain and blood in your vomit or poop.
What should you eat if you have duodenitis?
If you have duodenitis, you should avoid foods that are spicy, tomato-based, or highly acidic. You should also try to limit caffeine and alcohol. Also, try to avoid eating closer to bedtime (within three hours) to allow your digestive system to take a break.
Can stress cause duodenitis?
Yes, stress can be a cause of duodenitis. Physiologic stress (stress on your body and its functioning) can cause changes in the protective barrier of your stomach.
