A perforated peptic ulcer is associated with which symptom?

Severe abdominal pain is a hallmark symptom of a perforated peptic ulcer. When a peptic ulcer perforates, it creates a hole in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the leakage of gastric contents into the abdominal cavity. This can result in peritonitis, which is the inflammation of the peritoneum. The sudden release of irritants, along with the increased pressure and inflammation in the abdominal cavity, causes intense and often sudden pain that can be sharp and localized, typically in the upper abdomen. This pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms like a rigid abdomen, tachycardia, and signs of shock.

Other symptoms associated with peptic ulcers, such as nausea and vomiting, may occur, but they are not specific to perforation. Diarrhea and constipation are not typically associated with a perforated peptic ulcer and do not represent the acute presentation that characterizes this serious medical condition. The primary indicator of a perforated peptic ulcer is indeed the severe abdominal pain that arises from the acute abdominal emergency it presents.