H. pylori, a common type of bacteria, ends up affecting nearly half of the U.S. population at some point in their lives. While most people don’t have any symptoms, it can lead to peptic ulcers and, in rare cases, stomach cancer.
If you notice any symptoms pointing to a peptic ulcer, it’s crucial to visit a healthcare provider. The standard treatment involves using antibiotics to get rid of the H. pylori infection and antacids to help the stomach heal. This approach reduces the chances of developing stomach cancer.
Many people with H. pylori don’t show any signs. However, if it causes a peptic ulcer, you might experience typical symptoms like stomach pain or discomfort.
H. pylori can enter your system primarily through contaminated food or water, or by close contact with someone already infected. The bacteria can compromise the protective lining of the stomach, leading to chronic inflammation. Over time, this inflammation leaves the stomach vulnerable to digestive acids, which may result in ulcers.
Healthcare providers can diagnose an H. pylori infection relatively easily. They’ll do a physical exam, inquire about your symptoms, and review your family or medical history. Tests might include breath, stool, or blood samples, and sometimes further tests like endoscopy or X-rays are needed for a closer examination.
If your ulcer stems from H. pylori, you’ll likely be put on antibiotics like clarithromycin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin. Along with these, proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec or Nexium reduce the stomach’s acid production. In some cases, bismuth subsalicylate and histamine blockers like Pepcid AC are also prescribed to further aid the healing process.
If the first round of treatment isn’t successful, a follow-up might be necessary. Doctors usually test your breath or stool afterward to determine if more treatment is needed.
H. pylori is widespread, making total avoidance tough, but good hand hygiene, eating properly prepared food, and drinking clean water can lower your risk. Avoiding smoking and limiting NSAIDs can also help reduce the likelihood of infection. Untreated H. pylori infections might lead to peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, or even rare types of stomach cancer.
Researchers are still exploring how much H. pylori increases stomach cancer risk, but there’s evidence linking it to gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric MALT lymphoma. For people with these conditions, treating H. pylori often results in tumor shrinkage.
While many people remain symptom-free, for others, H. pylori can damage the stomach lining, leading to ulcers. Proper treatment with antibiotics and medications that reduce stomach acid can alleviate symptoms and lower the risk of complications like gastric cancer.
Certain factors increase the risk of H. pylori infection, including smoking, crowded living conditions, contaminated water sources, frequent NSAID use, and a family history of gastric cancer. Even though H. pylori doesn’t typically alter your stool, complications can change it to a black or bloody appearance.
H. pylori bacteria are quite crafty, surviving stomach acid where others perish, and can linger indefinitely if not treated. This persistence calls for targeted antibiotic treatment, as many people might not even know they’re carrying the bacteria.
