An inflammation of the small intestine known as duodenitis can be difficult to treat, but it is possible if you find the cause, doctors said.
Duodenitis is an inflammation in the lining of the duodenum, which is found just below the stomach.
"Duodenitis is where a portion of the small intestine gets inflamed. It's the first part of the small intestine that gets exposed to gastric contents, which can include medications, acid and alcohol, so that's why this area is typically prone to duodenitis," explained Mercy Medical Center gastroenterologist Dr. Richard Desi.
He said duodenitis can be cured with the right treatment, which depends on the cause.
If duodenitis comes from stomach acid, then acid reducers or antacid medications will help. If it's from Helicobacter pylori, which is a bacterial infection in the stomach, a doctor will have to prescribe medication.
Desi said if the cause is alcohol or smoking, then the patient needs to quit that vice.
"With just some supportive care and treatment, the underlying cause typically will go away," he said.
Desi said an endoscopy -- a procedure that examines the stomach and small intestine using a tiny camera on the end of a flexible tube -- is how doctors can determine if a patient has duodenitis.