Helicobacter pylori - what to know, when to get tested, and how eradication is monitored

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is Spiral Shape Gram-negative A bacterium that Stomach In the mucosa Inhabits And Chronic Gastritis causes long​ Infection Associated Peptic With ulcers , stomach With adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma .

What is Helicobacter pylori and why is it dangerous?

Helicobacter pylori is Spiral Shape Gram-negative Bacteria ,   which Adapted Stomach   Sour In the environment To live in . He Generates Enzyme Urease , which Urea Ammonia Transforms . This Ammonia Neutralizes Stomach Acid Bacteria Direct In the vicinity , which To him In survival It helps .   H. pylori Long Existence In the stomach causes Mucous Shell Inflammation And Progressively damage , which As a basis It is given Serious Diseases Development .

How much Is Helicobacter pylori infection common ?

Helicobacter pylori infection World Population Almost 50 % More It is noted that To him One by one Most widespread Bacterial Infection Turns into a developing In countries Spread Indicator as​ Rule , more is higher than Developed In countries that Tightly is Related Hygiene With standards And Socio - economic With conditions .

How is Helicobacter pylori spread?

Helicobacter pylori infection The transfer is happening . Oral - oral Or Fecal - oral In the way . In the program Meaning has Hygienic conditions , water And Food Safety And Tight Household Contact .

Infection Transmission Basic There are ways :

• From the mouth Person By way of ( oral - oral ):   This is Infection Transmission Most Common The road , especially Family Members Between , for example , saliva Exchange , one And Of the same Dishes Or Personal Hygiene of things When using .
• Fecal - oral By way of :   Contaminated With food Or with water , which Contains Bacteria . This Often It happens Hygiene Insufficient Standards Under the conditions .

When should we suspect infection?

Helicobacter pylori infection Doubt I must Let's bring it if You are welcome. Gastrointestinal​​ Tract Characteristic Symptoms Or Do you have Certain Risk factors . Important​ It should be noted that Bacteria Often Asymptomatic , but His/Her Existence Anyway causes Mucous Shell Damage .

Apply To the doctor , if Do you have Any Down Listed Symptom Or Condition :

1. Pain , burning Or Discomfort Stomach In the area :   Especially Empty On the stomach Or Eating Then .
2. Stomach Or Duodenum Intestinal Ulcer History : H. pylori ulcer Disease Home Etiological It is a factor .
3. Stomach Tumor Family History :   Genetic Predisposition Growth Oncological Risk of H. pylori In the background .
4. Unknown Iron deficiency Anemia :   H. pylori can cause ulcers to form and then cause bleeding from the ulcer.
5. Long-term Non-steroidal Inflammation Opposite Use of medications ( NSAIDs ) :   This Medication Background of H. pylori Existence significantly Growth Ulcers Development Risk .
6. Gastroscopy At the time Discovered Chronic Gastritis , erosions Or Ulcer :   This is Direct Reference Bacteria existence On the possibility .
7. Nausea , vomiting , bloating , loss of appetite Loss :   This Symptoms Also Maybe To indicate Gastrointestinal​​ about the problems , they Among H. pylori infection .

What diseases does Helicobacter pylori cause?

Helicobacter Pylor is Many Gastrointestinal​​ Disease Inciting Or Facilitator factor , they Between Chronic Inflammatory And Oncological Pathologies .

Bacteria by Caused Basic Diseases are :

• Chronic Gastritis :   Stomach Mucous Shell Long Inflammation , which Maybe to be Asymptomatic Or To cause Dyspeptic Symptoms ( discomfort , pain ).
• Erosive And Ulcerative Processes Stomach And Duodenum In the intestine : H. pylori is destroyed Mucous membrane Protect me The barrier , which Acid Aggressive Action Allow gives And Ulcers To produce It helps Hand .
• Stomach Cancer ( adenocarcinoma ): Helicobacter pylori is recognized as Stomach Adenocarcinoma Development One of them Home Trigger and group I Carcinogen . Long-term Infection causes Mucous membrane Atrophy And Metaplasia , which Precancerous There are situations .
• Stomach Lymphoma (MALT lymphoma ): H. pylori also Related Stomach With the mucosa Associated Lymphoid Fabric With the development of lymphoma (MALT lymphoma ) .

How should Helicobacter pylori testing be performed?

Diagnostics Basic The methods are :

1. Fecal Antigen Test :   Non-invasive   The method that H. pylori in stool Antigens Reveals . Used As Infection To confirm , so Treatment Efficiency To assess ( eradication) control ).
2. Respiratory Urease Test :   Non-invasive The test that Measures Carbon dioxide Quantity Exhaled H. pylori in the air Urease Activity Then the patient Drinks Special The solution , which Contains Marked Urea .
3. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy ( gastroscopy ) with biopsy :   Invasive The method by which Even when Endoscope by means of It happens Stomach Mucous Shell Visual Browse And Biopsy Sample To take . Taken Sample Subsequently Research :

• • Histologically :   With a microscope Bacteria Direct Discovery .
  • Fast Urease With a test Biopsy In the material Urease       Activity To determine .

Important Notes When diagnosing :

• Serology   (IgG)   No Used Treatment Further Eradication To control , because Antibodies In the blood Maybe Long time to remain Bacteria Elimination After that Yes . He Only Infection In the past On existence Indicates .
• Testing I must To be held Protonic Pump Inhibitors   (PPI)   From the termination At least 2 weeks Then And Antibiotics From the termination At least 4 weeks Then , in order to At first Let's avoid False - negative Results .

How to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection?

Helicobacter pylori Infection At first Avoidance   Possible Hygiene Basic Rules With protection And Certain Preventive Dimensions By acceptance .

Prevention Basic There are ways :

• Personal Hygiene :   Eating Forward And Then It is necessary Hands With soap And With water Thorough Wash .
• Food And Water Security :   Avoid. Suspicious Water To drink And Enjoy. Only Well Washed Or Thermally Processed Food .
• Personal Dishes Usage :   Especially Family Members between , if One by one It was determined Infection , in order to To decrease Transmission Risk .
• Timely Medical Consultation :   If Do you have Risk factors​ Or Permanent Symptoms , don't You will postpone. To the doctor Visit And Of necessity In case of gastroscopy To be held .

Treatment and basic post-treatment recommendations

Helicobacter pylori infection Treatment   It is complex. And Requires Doctor's Instructions Exactly Protection .

It is important. Let us remember Next Recommendations :

• Treatment Complete Course :   Antibiotics Course prematurely Termination causes Bacteria Resistance development And Treatment Failure . Always. Bring it. Treatment Until the end .
• Eradication Control :   Treatment 4-6 weeks after completion Then It is necessary Repeated Testing ( breathing) Or Fecal Antigen test ) to Make sure Bacteria complete Elimination of symptoms Disappearance No means that​ Bacteria In full It was destroyed .
• Resistance Prevention :   Arbitrarily Or Incompletely Conducted Therapy causes Bacteria Antibiotics Towards Resistance development , which Makes it difficult Further Treatment And Maybe Necessary To become More Strong , long-lasting And Expensive Antibiotics Use .

Conclusion :   Helicobacter pylori serious It is a bacterium that Can Important Damage to inflict   Gastrointestinal​​ System . Timely Diagnosis , correct Treatment And Preventive Dimensions Protection It is crucial. Yours For health . Don't Ignore Symptoms And Always Apply Specialist Qualified For help .

Author : Natia Razmadze - gastroenterologist .