General Information About Helicobacter Pylori
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a type of bacteria possessing a special enzyme (urease) that allows it to withstand the stomach's harsh acid layer, settling directly in the stomach lining and multiplying, thus damaging the digestive system.
It is typically transmitted from person to person during childhood via oral-oral or fecal-oral routes, by sharing the same glass or cutlery, consuming poorly washed food, or contaminated water.
Many people carrying the bacteria experience no symptoms. However, when the infection damages the stomach, symptoms include a burning/gnawing sensation in the upper abdomen, bloating after meals, frequent burping, nausea, and loss of appetite.
By piercing the stomach's protective lining, it allows stomach acid to burn its own wall, leading to stomach and duodenal ulcers. Furthermore, years of chronic infection increase the risk of stomach cancer by sixfold.
Blood and stool tests are available, but the most commonly used method is the Urea Breath Test. For a more definitive diagnosis, the presence of the bacteria is checked in a tiny tissue sample (biopsy) taken from the stomach during an endoscopy.
A single drug is not enough to eliminate the bacteria. A combination (eradication) therapy is applied, consisting of PPI drugs that zero out stomach acid and two (or sometimes three) different strong antibiotics used continuously for 10-14 days.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
