Causes

Infections, the intake of harmful drugs, stress or even the disease of a neighboring organ are the most common causes of inflammation of the duodenum. Very rarely, Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, can also be the cause of inflammation of the duodenum. Infections with many different germs can cause an inflammation of the duodenum.

By far the most common infection is that with the germ Helicobacter pylori. This germ nests in the stomach of many people in childhood. However, it causes symptoms in only 10% of those affected.

Due to its unique ability to form ammonia, it causes irritation of the surface mucosa not only in the stomach but also in the small intestine, and if the irritation lasts for a long time, it can eventually become inflamed. If the inflammation exceeds the superficial mucous membrane, a duodenal ulcer can develop in these cases. Among the drugs that irritate the stomach and duodenum mucosa and lead to inflammation, the so-called non-steroidal painkillers are the most important.Even if most people don’t know the term non-steroidal, most people know their most famous representatives: They are used as painkillers for rheumatism and other inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or gout, and often lead to inflammation of the stomach or duodenum surface when used for a long time.

Alcohol is a possible triggering factor for the inflammation of the duodenal mucosa as well as for the inflammation of the stomach mucosa. However, this has not yet been clarified with certainty. It is a fact, however, that the intake of alcohol has a counterproductive effect on the development of an already existing inflammation.

In addition, symptoms such as pain and nausea can worsen after alcohol consumption in the presence of duodenitis.

Acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. Aspirin®, ASS®)
Ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®, Neuralgin®)
Naproxen (e.g. Dolormin®)
Diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®).