All your questions about Helicobacter pylori are answered here!

As a common pathogen of gastric diseases, Helicobacter pylori has a very high infection rate in China. So what exactly is it? What impact will it have on our lives? How can we prevent and treat it? Next, let's follow the Third Affiliated Hospital of South China University to learn more about it.

1. What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a Gram-negative spiral bacterium that mainly parasitizes on the gastric mucosa. This bacterium is highly adaptable and can survive and reproduce in highly acidic gastric juice. Helicobacter pylori is closely related to a variety of gastric diseases, such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and even gastric cancer.

2. What are the dangers of Helicobacter pylori?

1. Chronic gastritis: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the main causes of chronic gastritis. After infection, the bacteria will settle on the gastric mucosa and cause inflammation, resulting in damage to the gastric mucosa.

2. Gastric ulcer: Helicobacter pylori infection is closely related to the occurrence of gastric ulcer. Infection can weaken the protective mechanism of gastric mucosa and aggravate the damage of gastric acid and digestive enzymes to gastric mucosa.

3. Gastric cancer: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the important risk factors for gastric cancer. Infection may promote the occurrence and development of gastric cancer through chronic inflammation, gene mutation and other pathways.

3. What are the main symptoms?

1. Upper abdominal pain or discomfort: It may manifest as dull pain, ache or a feeling of fullness. The pain may be related to diet, such as worsening pain after meals and relief on an empty stomach.

2. Indigestion: including acid reflux, excessive stomach acid, stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc.

3. Bad breath: Helicobacter pylori produces smelly gases in the mouth and stomach, causing bad breath.

4. Frequent hunger: Feeling hungry despite eating a normal diet.

5. Weight loss: Long-term impact on digestive function may lead to weight loss.

6. Belching: Belching is common after meals.

4. How to prevent and detect Helicobacter pylori?

1. Precautionary measures:

Pay attention to food hygiene and avoid consuming unclean food and water.

Develop good living habits, such as separate dining and using public chopsticks and spoons.

Maintain personal hygiene and wash your hands frequently.

Avoid sharing tableware with others, especially toothbrushes, bowls and chopsticks.

It is recommended to have regular physical examinations to understand the status of Helicobacter pylori infection.

2. Detection method:

Breath test (C14 or C13): non-invasive, painless, accurate, and results available within 30 minutes.

Gastroscopy: Observe the condition of the gastric mucosa and perform a rapid urease test.

Stool and blood tests: They can also be used to detect Helicobacter pylori, but are less commonly used clinically.

5. How to treat infection with Helicobacter pylori?

At present, the treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection mainly adopts antibiotic combination therapy, that is, high-dose dual therapy or quadruple therapy. During the treatment, patients need to take medicine on time, maintain good living habits, avoid spicy and greasy food, quit smoking and limit alcohol. After recovery, regular check-ups are required to prevent recurrence.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a global health problem. Understanding its hazards, prevention and treatment methods is of great significance to our lives. I hope that through the introduction of this article, you will have a deeper understanding of Helicobacter pylori. If you have any related questions, please feel free to consult our gastroenterology experts. I wish you good health and a happy life!

Source: Department of Gastroenterology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of University of South China

Follow @湖南医聊 to get more health science information!

(Edited by Wx)