What is H.Pylori?
What Is an H. Pylori Infection?
H. pylori are spiral-shaped bacteria that grow in the digestive tract and have a tendency to attack the stomach lining. H. pylori infections are usually harmless, but they’re responsible for the majority of ulcers in the stomach and small intestine.
H. pylori is a common type of bacteria that usually infects the stomach. They may be present in more than half of all people in the world. The “H” in the name is short for Helicobacter. “Helico” means spiral. The bacteria are spiral shaped.
H. pylori normally infect the stomach during childhood. While infections with this strain of bacteria typically don’t cause symptoms, they can lead to diseases in some people, including peptic ulcers, and an inflammatory condition inside the stomach known as gastritis.
H. pylori are adapted to live in the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach. These bacteria can change the environment around them and reduce its acidity so they can survive. The shape of H. pylori allows them to penetrate the stomach lining, where they’re protected by mucus and the body’s immune cells are not able to reach them. The bacteria can interfere with the immune response and ensure that they’re not destroyed. This can lead to stomach problems.
What Causes H. Pylori Infections?
It’s still not known exactly how H. pylori infections spread. The bacteria have coexisted with humans for many thousands of years. The infections are thought to spread from one person’s mouth to another. They may also be transferred from feces to the mouth. This can happen when a person does not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. H. pylori can also spread through contact with contaminated water or food.
The bacteria are believed to cause stomach problems when they penetrate the stomach’s mucous lining and generate substances that neutralize stomach acids. This makes the stomach cells more vulnerable to the harsh acids. Stomach acid and H. pylori together irritate the stomach lining and may cause sores or peptic ulcers in your stomach or duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine.
Who Is at Risk for H. Pylori Infection?
Children are more likely to develop an H. pylori infection. Their risk is higher mostly due to lack of proper hygiene.
The risk for the infection partly depends on the environment and living conditions. Risk is higher if:
- one lives in a developing country,
- shares housing with others who are infected with H. pylori,
- live in overcrowded housing,
- have no access to hot water, which can help to keep areas clean and free from bacteria.
It’s now understood that peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or eating foods high in acid, but they’re actually caused by this type of bacteria. About 10 percent of people infected with H. pylori develop a peptic ulcer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also increases the risk of getting a peptic ulcer.
What Are the Symptoms of H. Pylori Infection?
Most people with H. pylori don’t have any symptoms.
When the infection leads to an ulcer, symptoms may include abdominal pain, especially when the stomach is empty at night or a few hours after meals. The pain is usually described as a gnawing pain, and it may come and go. Eating or taking antacid drugs may relieve this pain.
If one has this type of pain or a strong pain that doesn’t seem to go away, visit your doctor.
A number of other symptoms may be associated with H. pylori infection, including:
- excessive burping
- feeling bloated
- nausea or vomiting
- lack of appetite, or anorexia
- unexplained weight loss
However, these are common symptoms that could be caused by other conditions. Some of the symptoms of H. pylori infection are also experienced by healthy people. These symptoms are common, but if any of them persist or you’re concerned about them, it’s always best to see your doctor. If you notice blood or a black color in your feces or vomit, you should consult your doctor.
How Are H. Pylori Infections Diagnosed?
The doctor will ask about your medical history and family history of disease. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking, including any vitamins or supplements. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a peptic ulcer, your doctor will likely ask you specifically about your use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen.
Your doctor may also perform many other tests and procedures to help confirm their diagnosis:
Physical exam
During a physical exam, your doctor will examine your stomach to check for signs of bloating, tenderness, or pain. They’ll also listen for any sounds within the abdomen.
Blood Tests
You may need to give blood samples, which will be used to look for antibodies against H. pylori. For a blood test, a healthcare provider will draw a small amount of blood from your arm or hand. The blood will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Stool Tests
A stool sample may be needed to check for signs of H. pylori in your feces. Your doctor will give you a container to take home with you to catch and store a sample of your stool. Once you return the container to your healthcare provider, they will send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.
Breath Tests
If you have a breath test, you’ll swallow a preparation containing urea. If H. pylori bacteria are present, they will release an enzyme that breaks down this combination and will release carbon dioxide, which a special device then detects.
Endoscopy
If you have an endoscopy, your doctor will insert a long, thin instrument called an endoscope into your mouth and down into your stomach and duodenum. An attached camera will send back images on a monitor for your doctor to view. Any abnormal areas will be inspected, and special tools used with the endoscope will take samples from these areas if that’s necessary.
What Are the Complications of H. Pylori Infections?
H. pylori infections can lead to peptic ulcers, but the infection or the ulcer itself can lead to more serious complications. These include:
- Internal bleeding, which can happen when a peptic ulcer breaks through your blood vessel
obstruction, which can happen when an ulcer blocks the food from leaving your stomach
perforation, which can happen when an ulcer breaks through your stomach wall
peritonitis, which is an infection of the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity.
- Studies show that infected people also have an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, which is a type of stomach cancer. While the infection is a major cause of stomach cancer, most people infected with H. pylori never develop stomach cancer.
How Are H. Pylori Infections Treated?
If you have an H. pylori infection that isn’t causing you any problems and you aren’t at increased risk of stomach cancer, treatment may not offer any benefits.
Stomach cancer, along with duodenal and stomach ulcers, is associated with H. pylori infection. If you have close relatives with stomach cancer or a problem such as a stomach or duodenal ulcer, your doctor may want you to have treatment. Treatment can cure an ulcer, and it may reduce your risk of developing stomach cancer.
Medications
You will normally need to take a combination of two different antibiotics, together with another drug that reduces your stomach acid. Lowering stomach acid helps the antibiotics work more effectively. This treatment is sometimes referred to as triple therapy.
After treatment, a follow-up test for H. pylori is carried out. In most cases, only one round of antibiotics is needed to clear the infection, but one might need to take more, using different drugs.
Lifestyle and Diet
There’s s no evidence that food and nutrition play a role in preventing or causing peptic ulcer disease in people infected with H. pylori. However, spicy foods, alcohol, and smoking may worsen a peptic ulcer and prevent it from healing properly.
What Can I Expect in the Long Term?
For many people infected with H. pylori, their infections never cause any difficulties. If you’re experiencing symptoms and receive treatment, your long-term outlook is usually positive.
For those who develop diseases associated with an H. Pylori infection, the outlook will depend on the problem, how soon it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated. You may need to take more than one round of treatment to kill the H. pylori bacteria. If the infection is still present after one round of treatment, a peptic ulcer could return or, more rarely, stomach cancer could develop. Very few people infected with H. pylori will develop stomach cancer. However, if you have a family history of stomach cancer, you should get testing and treatment for an H. pylori infection.
H. pylori are spiral-shaped bacteria that grow in the digestive tract and have a tendency to attack the stomach lining. H. pylori infections are usually harmless, but they’re responsible for the majority of ulcers in the stomach and small intestine.
H. pylori is a common type of bacteria that usually infects the stomach. They may be present in more than half of all people in the world. The “H” in the name is short for Helicobacter. “Helico” means spiral. The bacteria are spiral shaped.
H. pylori normally infect the stomach during childhood. While infections with this strain of bacteria typically don’t cause symptoms, they can lead to diseases in some people, including peptic ulcers, and an inflammatory condition inside the stomach known as gastritis.
H. pylori are adapted to live in the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach. These bacteria can change the environment around them and reduce its acidity so they can survive. The shape of H. pylori allows them to penetrate the stomach lining, where they’re protected by mucus and the body’s immune cells are not able to reach them. The bacteria can interfere with the immune response and ensure that they’re not destroyed. This can lead to stomach problems.
What Causes H. Pylori Infections?
It’s still not known exactly how H. pylori infections spread. The bacteria have coexisted with humans for many thousands of years. The infections are thought to spread from one person’s mouth to another. They may also be transferred from feces to the mouth. This can happen when a person does not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. H. pylori can also spread through contact with contaminated water or food.
The bacteria are believed to cause stomach problems when they penetrate the stomach’s mucous lining and generate substances that neutralize stomach acids. This makes the stomach cells more vulnerable to the harsh acids. Stomach acid and H. pylori together irritate the stomach lining and may cause sores or peptic ulcers in your stomach or duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine.
Who Is at Risk for H. Pylori Infection?
Children are more likely to develop an H. pylori infection. Their risk is higher mostly due to lack of proper hygiene.
The risk for the infection partly depends on the environment and living conditions. Risk is higher if:
- one lives in a developing country,
- shares housing with others who are infected with H. pylori,
- live in overcrowded housing,
- have no access to hot water, which can help to keep areas clean and free from bacteria.
It’s now understood that peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or eating foods high in acid, but they’re actually caused by this type of bacteria. About 10 percent of people infected with H. pylori develop a peptic ulcer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also increases the risk of getting a peptic ulcer.
What Are the Symptoms of H. Pylori Infection?
Most people with H. pylori don’t have any symptoms.
When the infection leads to an ulcer, symptoms may include abdominal pain, especially when the stomach is empty at night or a few hours after meals. The pain is usually described as a gnawing pain, and it may come and go. Eating or taking antacid drugs may relieve this pain.
If one has this type of pain or a strong pain that doesn’t seem to go away, visit your doctor.
A number of other symptoms may be associated with H. pylori infection, including:
- excessive burping
- feeling bloated
- nausea or vomiting
- lack of appetite, or anorexia
- unexplained weight loss
However, these are common symptoms that could be caused by other conditions. Some of the symptoms of H. pylori infection are also experienced by healthy people. These symptoms are common, but if any of them persist or you’re concerned about them, it’s always best to see your doctor. If you notice blood or a black color in your feces or vomit, you should consult your doctor.
How Are H. Pylori Infections Diagnosed?
The doctor will ask about your medical history and family history of disease. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking, including any vitamins or supplements. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a peptic ulcer, your doctor will likely ask you specifically about your use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen.
Your doctor may also perform many other tests and procedures to help confirm their diagnosis:
Physical exam
During a physical exam, your doctor will examine your stomach to check for signs of bloating, tenderness, or pain. They’ll also listen for any sounds within the abdomen.
Blood Tests
You may need to give blood samples, which will be used to look for antibodies against H. pylori. For a blood test, a healthcare provider will draw a small amount of blood from your arm or hand. The blood will then be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Stool Tests
A stool sample may be needed to check for signs of H. pylori in your feces. Your doctor will give you a container to take home with you to catch and store a sample of your stool. Once you return the container to your healthcare provider, they will send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.
Breath Tests
If you have a breath test, you’ll swallow a preparation containing urea. If H. pylori bacteria are present, they will release an enzyme that breaks down this combination and will release carbon dioxide, which a special device then detects.
Endoscopy
If you have an endoscopy, your doctor will insert a long, thin instrument called an endoscope into your mouth and down into your stomach and duodenum. An attached camera will send back images on a monitor for your doctor to view. Any abnormal areas will be inspected, and special tools used with the endoscope will take samples from these areas if that’s necessary.
What Are the Complications of H. Pylori Infections?
H. pylori infections can lead to peptic ulcers, but the infection or the ulcer itself can lead to more serious complications. These include:
- Internal bleeding, which can happen when a peptic ulcer breaks through your blood vessel
obstruction, which can happen when an ulcer blocks the food from leaving your stomach
perforation, which can happen when an ulcer breaks through your stomach wall
peritonitis, which is an infection of the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity.
- Studies show that infected people also have an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma, which is a type of stomach cancer. While the infection is a major cause of stomach cancer, most people infected with H. pylori never develop stomach cancer.
How Are H. Pylori Infections Treated?
If you have an H. pylori infection that isn’t causing you any problems and you aren’t at increased risk of stomach cancer, treatment may not offer any benefits.
Stomach cancer, along with duodenal and stomach ulcers, is associated with H. pylori infection. If you have close relatives with stomach cancer or a problem such as a stomach or duodenal ulcer, your doctor may want you to have treatment. Treatment can cure an ulcer, and it may reduce your risk of developing stomach cancer.
Medications
You will normally need to take a combination of two different antibiotics, together with another drug that reduces your stomach acid. Lowering stomach acid helps the antibiotics work more effectively. This treatment is sometimes referred to as triple therapy.
After treatment, a follow-up test for H. pylori is carried out. In most cases, only one round of antibiotics is needed to clear the infection, but one might need to take more, using different drugs.
Lifestyle and Diet
There’s s no evidence that food and nutrition play a role in preventing or causing peptic ulcer disease in people infected with H. pylori. However, spicy foods, alcohol, and smoking may worsen a peptic ulcer and prevent it from healing properly.
What Can I Expect in the Long Term?
For many people infected with H. pylori, their infections never cause any difficulties. If you’re experiencing symptoms and receive treatment, your long-term outlook is usually positive.
For those who develop diseases associated with an H. Pylori infection, the outlook will depend on the problem, how soon it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated. You may need to take more than one round of treatment to kill the H. pylori bacteria. If the infection is still present after one round of treatment, a peptic ulcer could return or, more rarely, stomach cancer could develop. Very few people infected with H. pylori will develop stomach cancer. However, if you have a family history of stomach cancer, you should get testing and treatment for an H. pylori infection.
Culled and edited. Images: Google.
Comments
Post a Comment