There are thousands of conditions and infections that we are very vulnerable to be exposed to and which are common to be completely unaware of. And it is just because of that ignorance that we cannot distinguish when they need to be attended urgently to prevent health from worsening, as well as the state of the internal or physical organism.
That is why it is important to know some injuries that we may face at some point in our lives and that, if we are basically prepared, we can face them successfully.
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One of those important injuries that we tend not to know about are ulcers, a type of sore that if not treated with the required care can become a challenge for our health.ulcers, a type of sore that if not treated with the required care can become a challenge for our health. Surely you have heard of them or have known someone who has suffered from them, but did you know that there are many types of ulcers? Well, that is what we will talk about in this article.
What are ulcers?
They are characterized by being a deep and significant epithelial lesion, derived from the loss of substances from the skin or stomach mucosa. They have different origins, depending on each person who suffers from them and their own medical history.They can therefore be found in multiple parts of the body. Although they usually derive from some imbalance between the protective or defensive factors of the organism, the most common being stomach or duodenal ulcers.
They are also called sores because of the appearance they present, which is a reddish inflammation that shows living flesh surrounding a hollow that may increase in size and fill with pus, the later it heals and heals.
Types of ulcers and their characteristics
As you could read, ulcers are generated in many parts of the organism and the body, that is why we have brought a list with the types of ulcers and their characteristics. we have brought a list with the types of ulcers that exist and what distinguishes them.
1. According to their cutaneous origin and extension
This classification refers to the size and depth that the condition has caused in the tissues.. Let’s know what types of ulcers exist within this criterion.
1.1. Grade 1 ulcers
These are called early stage ulcers and are the mildest of all. Therefore, they are the easiest to treat, but at the same time they have the peculiarity of being the most difficult to detect, this is because despite presenting a distinguishable pain and redness in the affected area, it is not strong enough to alert the sufferer. So they can develop into grade 2 ulcers in a fairly quick time.
1.2. Grade 2 ulcers
They are characterized by being more serious than grade 1 ulcers, since they represent a loss of the superficial tissue of the skin or the affected area and therefore, a higher level of pain is presented. The most indicated treatment to deal with this type of sores, as well as those of grade 1, is to take Mepentol every 12 hours, until the wound is completely healed.
1.3. Grade 3 ulcers
In these sores, the extent of tissue loss is much greater, reaching the point where a hole is created in the skin that can be seen in more serious ulcers. These are more difficult to treat as the damage is more severe, not only is there reddening of the skin, but it can also be exposed to infection.
1.4. Grade 4 ulcers
They are the most severe of all, it is the final stage of the ulcer where the extent of tissue loss is clinically significant and the depth of the damage can reach up to exposing the bone or the interior of the organ.
This stage shows structural damage to the infected tissues and is life-threatening for the patient. They are very common to observe in people who suffer from some limitation in their mobility. To eliminate them, it is necessary for the person to undergo an operation and possibly reconstructive plastic surgery.
2. According to their origin
In this classification we can see the ulcers according to the place where they develop in the body of people with this condition. in the body of people suffering from this condition.
2.1. Peptic ulcers
They are the most common of all, known to affect the mucosa of the stomach or duodenum (called gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers respectively) and in more particular cases, they can develop in the esophagus in those who suffer from some disease in the esophagus.
They are caused by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, although there are also cases in which their origin is due to the abuse of anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin, consumption of spicy foods or caffeine and as a consequence of a hectic lifestyle. They can be treated effectively with medical treatment or with surgical intervention in more serious cases, such as deep holes in the stomach and perforations in the duodenum.
2.2. Pressure ulcers
These develop as a result of continuous and prolonged pressure on an area of the body, causing a rupture of the skin tissue, which can progressively and aggressively worsen. The most common to observe are in the area of the sacrum or legs due to the immobility of people who are in bed for any medical treatment or disease that limits their movements.
Another more common cause is a circulation problem in the affected area, causing skin lesions. They appear more frequently in people who have venous problems in the legs or who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
2.3. Mouth ulcers
Another of the most common in people, they are seen as sores of a yellowish color and red edges that lodge in the internal tissue of the mouth, such as on the cheeks, behind the lips and even on the tongue. They are related to multiple everyday causes such as poor diet, ingestion of foods high in sugar, poor oral hygiene, candidiasis infection, to more serious causes such as the herpes virus.
2.4. Venous ulcers
This type of ulcer is caused by the deterioration of the circulatory system of the person, as a result of a previous venous disease. The indicated treatment is one of the most complex and delayed of all, since it requires the support of elastic bandages so that the person can be able to move and which must be used for a month or a year depending on the severity of the ulcer.
On the other hand, it is necessary for the patient to drastically change his lifestyle for a more active one and to start a healthier diet, completely eliminating fatty foods and caffeine consumption.
2.5. Genital ulcers
These sores may be seen on the superficial or internal tissue of the vagina, penis and scrotum and are related to the presence of a serious infection or sexually transmitted disease, the most common being herpes (HPV) or syphilis. Initially a single painless sore may be seen in some cases, whereas if a severe infection is present, multiple bothersome sores are usually seen. In either case, it is of utmost importance to treat them promptly, as they can be spread to sexual partners.
They are usually accompanied by other symptoms that are more noticeable, such as a change in vaginal discharge, discharge from the urethra, a stronger and more annoying odor. Fevers or general malaise may also occur.
2.6. Arterial ulcers
They are more difficult to treat and cure than venous ulcers, since they involve the deterioration of the patient’s arteries, whose functioning is linked to the functioning of the heart. They are therefore considered the most serious and painful of all.
2.7. Corneal ulcers
They develop as a consequence of an infection, injury or trauma to the outer layer of the eye (which serves as the eye’s protection against external agents), as well as the product of inflammation of the cornea. In general, these causes are due to the prolonged use of contact lenses, poor positioning, poor hygiene or misuse of contact lenses.
2.8. Mixed ulcers
These are the least frequent of all and at the same time they are almost impossible to heal as they represent a combination of arterial and venous deterioration of people, although there is treatment. Thus affecting not only the circulatory system but also jeopardizing cardiac health and proper organ function.
2.9. Diabetic ulcers
As their name indicates, these are ulcers that usually appear on the foot in patients with a history of diabetes. They are considered one of the most complicated to treat and are very aggressive, since they tend to perforate the layers of the skin very easily and quickly, until the bone is exposed, so they are very deep, even though they are not visible to the naked eye, but are observed as small superficial sores.
It is also difficult to detect at first by the patient, since there is no pain and the sensitivity of touch of the foot is still preserved, i.e., the ulcer may be in an advanced and serious stage without being noticed at all.
2.10. Rectal ulcers
This occurs due to a particular disease called solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, which consists of the appearance of multiple sores in the rectum and are caused by chronic constipation. They can be noticed when blood appears in the stool and intense pain when evacuating.
2.11. Iatrogenic Ulcers
This is a type of ulcer that develops in hospital environments and usually does not appear otherwise. It is due to infections in open or small wounds caused by the chronic low defenses of the immune system, so they need antibiotic treatment to eradicate it.
2.13. Oncological ulcers
These types of ulcers are the result of the presence of cancer or tumor in the organism and precisely because of their origin they are almost impossible to cure completely. They are distinguished from the rest of the ulcers because this one grows in expansion and not in depth, besides the main treatment consists of applying non-aggressive products to keep them clean.