What type of ulcer is commonly associated with H. pylori infection?

The type of ulcer that is commonly associated with H. pylori infection is known as a peptic ulcer. H. pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric epithelium and is a significant contributing factor to the development of peptic ulcers, which include both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Peptic ulcers are characterized by the erosion of the protective mucosal layer of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum), and H. pylori infection leads to increased gastric acid secretion, inflammation, and damage to the mucosal barrier. This bacterial infection is commonly linked to the chronic inflammation seen in these ulcers, as it causes the mucosa to become more susceptible to both acid and pepsin, ultimately leading to ulceration.

In contrast, while duodenal ulcers are indeed a specific type of peptic ulcer that can also be associated with H. pylori, the broader category of peptic ulcers encompasses both gastric and duodenal ulcers as well as potentially others. Esophageal and colon ulcers have different etiologies and are less commonly connected to H. pylori infection, focusing instead on other factors such as reflux disease for esophageal ulcers or inflammatory bowel conditions for colon ulcers.