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Show Antibiotics the best stomach medicine When a burning sensation in the abdomen or chest occurs after meals, the best treatment may turn out to be antibiotics, not antacids, according to a Stanford Medical Center physician. "In recent years we have learned a lot about some major diseases of the stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small intestine), particularly par-ticularly gastritis and ulcers, which are often caused by an infection," noted Dr. Gabriel Garcia, assistant professor of medicine and head of Stanford's Gastroenterology Clinic. "Hundreds of thousands of cases of gastritis each year are caused by the bacteria called Helicobacter pylori" said Garcia. The pesky bug appears to be responsible for some ulcers as well, he added. Large doses of antacid, or other drugs that decrease stomach acid production, can be helpful in healing heal-ing ulcers or improving the symptoms symp-toms of gastritis, said Garcia. But ulcers are a recurrent problem, and the good news is that antibiotic treatment of the Helicobacter pylori infection helps keep ulcers from coming back, the gastroenterologist explained. A medical exam can pinpoint if the stomach ailment is gastritis, an inflammation, or ulcers, which are open sores in the stomach or intestinal in-testinal lining. And of course a physician visit is important when abdominal pain is severe or persists to rule out other serious conditions that may need a different kind of treatment, Garcia explained. |