What Causes Pain In Upper Stomach Below The Sternum?

Posted on Tue, 22 Jul 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 Answered on

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been getting unbearable "pain" in my upper stomach below the sternum. The only way I can describe it is intense, gnawing hunger pain. I used to get it very sporadically (maybe one a year), but now I've had it for 6 months. Last couple days symptoms include fever, chills, nausea. The discomfort wakes me up. It seems too low to be heartburn.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (-5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Seems to be due to Duodenal ulcers.

Detailed Answer:
Dear Friend.
Welcome to HCM. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.
The kind of pain and symptoms that you are describing seems to be due to Acid Peptic Disease associated with Peptic Ulcer and more specifically Duodenal ulcers.
Usually these ulcers harbinate Helicobacter.pylori infection that prevents them from healing leading to recurrent pain.
I advise you following:
1. To get an Upper Gastro intestinal endoscopy done with Rapid Urease test for Helicobacter.pylori infection.

2. After the report is available you would be started on a special regimen for H.pylori infection .

In case you live in resource deficient area and endoscopy is not possible, that H.pylori regimen can be started on clinical grounds.

If you have any further query feel free to ask me.
Stay Healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju