Final answer:
A client with a duodenal peptic ulcer typically reports burning or gnawing upper abdominal pain that worsens at night and may improve with eating, along with possible belching, vomiting, and weight loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
A client with a suspected peptic ulcer in the duodenum should be expected to report characteristic pain associated with this condition.
The primary symptom is upper abdominal pain which often worsens at night and may improve with eating. The pain may be described as burning or gnawing in nature.
Additional symptoms can include belching, vomiting, weight loss, poor appetite, and occasionally, nocturnal awakening due to the discomfort. It is noteworthy that in some cases, especially in older individuals, peptic ulcers may present with no symptoms.
Peptic ulcers are commonly caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori, but may also be a result of long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.
Complications from peptic ulcers can be severe, including bleeding and perforation of the stomach or duodenal wall, which would require emergency surgery.
Therefore, symptoms of a peptic ulcer warrant thorough investigation and prompt treatment, typically including antibiotics for H. pylori and medications to reduce stomach acid.