Ulceration or erosion of the stomach lining, characterized by the formation of open sores in the stomach wall.
From Greek 'gastro-' (stomach) and 'helkosis' (ulceration), from 'helkos' (wound or ulcer). This medical term describes the pathological process of stomach ulcers forming.
Before we understood that bacteria cause most ulcers, doctors blamed stress and spicy food—when Barry Marshall proved H. pylori bacteria caused them by infecting himself, he won a Nobel Prize!
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