Peptic ulcer disease : A peptic ulcer is a defect in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine, an area called the duodenum.A peptic ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer. An ulcer in the duodenum is called a duodenal ulcer. Major causes of Peptic ulcer disease(PUD) are Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially in patients with risk factors such as smoking and alcohol use. Diagnostic testing for PUD includes procedures used to document the presence of an ulcer, usually endoscopy, and tests that document the presence of H. pylori infection. Eradication of H. pylori, involving the use of at least two antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) for 10 to 14 days, plays a major role in curing PUD. Antibiotics to treat PUD include clarithromycin , amoxicillin, tetracycline, or metronidazole. Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole or esomeprazole), bismuth subsalicylate and ulcer protectants( sucralfate) are the other mainstays in PUD treatment.