Understanding H. pylori: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

What is an H. pylori infection?

H. pylori is a bacteria that damages the protective lining of the stomach. These bacteria normally grows in the digestive tract and have adapted the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach. The H in H. pylori stands for Helicobacter which means spiral and refers to the shape of the bacteria. H. pylori  can infect your stomach lining in your childhood. However, it may not show many H. pylori  symptoms  till later in life. But if left untreated this bacteria can cause stomach ulcers and various other diseases.     

Who gets H. pylori infections?

H. pylori is present in 50-70% of people worldwide, but it does not cause disease in most people. However, children are at greater risk of contracting an H. pylori infection, and it is more common in developing countries. About 5% of children under the age of 10 are infected with H. pylori. H. pylori infection usually occurs in children in areas with poor sanitation and overcrowding.

How do you get H. pylori?

The H. pylori bacteria can spread within individuals through:

• Mouth-to-mouth (Kissing)
• Consuming dirty food or water
• Using unclean utensil
• Contaminated vomit or poop

When the H. pylori bacteria enters the body it immediately starts to multiply in the stomach lining and can weaken the lining and promote the formation of ulcers due to stomach acids.

How does H. pylori infection cause damage?

H. pylori multiplies in the mucus layer of the stomach lining and duodenum. Bacteria secrete an enzyme called urease which converts urea into ammonia. This ammonia protects the bacteria from stomach acid. H. pylori also eats into the stomach tissue as it multiplies leading to gastritis and gastric ulcers.

What are the symptoms of H. pylori infection?

Only 20% of children who have an H. pylori infection may show H. pylori symptoms.

Most of these are symptoms that are also present from gastritis or peptic ulcers.

H. pylori symptoms include:

• A dull burning sensation in the stomach can arise a few hours after eating. This pain may last for a few minutes or a few hours and may take several days to weeks to go away.
• Bloating
• Unplanned weight loss
• Indigestion
• Nausea and vomiting (sometimes blood vomit)
• Loss of appetite
• Burping
• Blood in stool (Dark stool)

How is H. pylori infection diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects that you may have an H. pylori infection, they may prescribe one or more diagnostic tests to confirm their H. pylori diagnosis.

This includes:

• A breath test in which you will have to exhale into a bag before and after drinking a liquid containing a substance called urea. This H. pylori test is used to measure how much carbon dioxide you release at these times. If the level of carbon dioxide released after drinking the solution is higher then the bacteria H. pylori is present.
• The stool H. pylori test looks for proof of H. pylori infection in your stool sample.
• Upper endoscopy for severe cases where a flexible tube with a tiny camera (endoscope) is inserted in the stomach through the throat and esophagus and into your stomach and the first part of the intestine (duodenum) to view any problems in your upper digestive tract and take a small tissue sample of the abdomen and inner lining to detect the presence of H. pylori.

How is H. pylori treated?

If you have no symptoms of H. pylori, you may not need treatment. However, if you have received an H. pylori diagnosis, your doctor may suggest you stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because they may increase your risk of stomach ulcers.

Ulcers caused by H. pylori are usually treated with the help of a combination of acid-reducing proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics.

• Antibiotics commonly prescribed for H. pylori treatment include clarithromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and metronidazole.
• The proton pump inhibitors which are used to treat H. pylori treatment include lansoprazole, pantoprazole, omeprazole, rabeprazole, or esomeprazole.
• Bismuth subsalicylate is another drug that can be added to a combination of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitor combinations in order to help to protect the stomach lining.

Any combination of this treatment can be given for a period of about 14 days.

Can H. pylori infection be prevented?

Drinking and using clean water for cooking can help reduce the risk of H. pylori infection. This is especially important if you live in an area where the water supply is contaminated. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after using the bathroom can helps eliminate the H. pylori bacteria that causes infection.

What are the risk factors of H. pylori?

Risk factors for H. pylori infection are often linked to living conditions during childhood.

Some of these include:

• People who live in very crowded conditions, sharing the same bathrooms and living spaces.
• Since the use of impure water is one of the main H. pylori causes, living without a reliable supply of clean water is another risk factor for H. pylori infection.
• Living in a developing country increases the risk of H. pylori infection because it is usually crowded and some people may live in unsanitary living conditions.
• Life with a person known for having H. Pylori infection causes you to risk the development of greater infection than H. pylori can be transmitted from person to person.

What are the risk complications of H. pylori?

Having an H. pylori infection puts you at risk of complications such as:

• Ulcers are caused due to damage to the protective lining of your stomach and small intestines.
• Inflammation of the stomach lining due to the irritation and swelling caused by an H. pylori infection.
• You are at higher risk of developing certain types of stomach cancer if you have an H. pylori infection.
• Internal bleeding can occur if a peptic ulcer caused by H. pylori bacteria breaks through a blood vessel.
• If the ulcer breaks through the stomach wall it can cause perforation (a hole in the stomach, small, or large intestine)
• Peritonitis, an infection of the peritoneum, i.e., the inner lining of the abdominal cavity, can also result from H. pylori infection.

Conclusion

H. pylori is a bacterial infection which can alter the stomach lining of your digestive tract. You can be infected with H. pylori during childhood, but most people do not experience any H. pylori symptoms their entire life, while others may have to deal with issues like stomach ulcers or, in rare cases, stomach cancer. Regular health checkups and diagnostic tests, especially in an area with known H. pylori causes, such as unclean water, can help you identify an infection or the presence of H. pylori in the early stages. Metropolis Labs is one of India's premium diagnostic labs that also provide home sample collection services so you can now get all the tests done from the comfort of your home. Contact us today for more details.