2023 "Pharmacy Popular Science Works" Essay Exhibition | Learn about Helicobacter pylori and look at these questions!

At the window of the hospital outpatient pharmacy, patients undergoing Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment often complain like this:

"What kind of black-hearted doctor is this? He prescribed a large package of medicine for commissions. He makes money in a dishonest way..."

"So many medicines, I've taken them all, no need to eat..."

"Oh my god, there are so many medicines. You should have told me to carry them in a backpack..."

"Is this doctor wrong? I just feel a little uncomfortable in my stomach. I took so many medicines, but it made me feel worse..."

Why do these patients complain like this? It is because they do not know or do not fully understand Helicobacter pylori and its treatment. Currently, the clinical cure of Helicobacter pylori requires combined medication. Using a single drug is not effective and is prone to drug resistance.

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that exists in the stomach and duodenal bulb. The bacterium has a strong ability to survive and is the only bacterium that can "station" in the stomach. According to the largest epidemiological survey of Helicobacter pylori infection in the world so far published by Chinese scholars in the journal "Gut" in 2023, the overall infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in Chinese families is 71.2%. That is to say, in terms of families, 71 out of 100 families have at least one person infected with Helicobacter pylori.

The urea breath test (13C and 14C breath test) is one of the most commonly used methods for clinical detection of Helicobacter pylori. It has many advantages such as simplicity, speed, painlessness, high accuracy and low price. Most domestic medical institutions can perform the test.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a high-risk factor for gastric cancer, but it does not mean that as long as you are infected with Helicobacter pylori, you will definitely get gastric cancer. In addition to Helicobacter pylori, the occurrence of gastric cancer is also related to many factors. High-salt diet, obesity, smoking, ham and bacon are all risk factors for gastric cancer. Therefore, the results of Helicobacter pylori infection in different groups are also different.

About 30% of people infected with Helicobacter pylori will experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as stomach pain, bloating, acid reflux, heartburn, etc., while the other 70% of infected people have basically no symptoms. Many people believe that if there are no symptoms, there is no need for treatment. Not true! In general, it is recommended to conduct targeted eradication treatment after the Helicobacter pylori infection is discovered. In special cases, you can also weigh your own situation and the benefits and risks of treatment.

Eradicating Helicobacter pylori has many benefits. First, eradicating Helicobacter pylori is the main means to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer; second, eradicating Helicobacter pylori can prevent cross-infection among family members.

Helicobacter pylori is a contagious bacterium that is mainly transmitted through the oral-oral or fecal-oral route. Developing good hygiene habits in daily life can effectively cut off the transmission route of Helicobacter pylori:

1. Use serving spoons and chopsticks or separate meals when eating together;

2. Wash your hands promptly before meals and after defecation;
3. Pay attention to food hygiene, do not eat raw food, and avoid drinking raw water;
4. Prepare separate bowls and chopsticks for children;
5. If there is someone infected with Helicobacter pylori at home, use separate bowls and chopsticks and disinfect them regularly.
Active eradication treatment reduces the source of infection, and lifestyle changes cut off the transmission route. Only by taking a two-pronged approach can the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection in family members be minimized.

First of all, eating garlic cannot kill Helicobacter pylori.

Secondly, toothpaste can only act on Helicobacter pylori in the mouth, but not in the stomach. Therefore, it is unrealistic to eliminate Helicobacter pylori by brushing your teeth.

Finally, probiotics can be used as an adjunct therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and alleviate bacterial flora imbalance associated with antibiotics and other drugs, but they cannot kill Helicobacter pylori when used alone.

At present, the clinical eradication of Helicobacter pylori generally uses a quadruple drug therapy of "proton pump inhibitor + 2 antibiotics + bismuth", which is taken once in the morning and evening for a total of 14 days, with an eradication rate of >90%. Therefore, don't complain about taking too many medicines!

During Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, the following points should be kept in mind:

1. Take medication regularly for a full course of treatment;
2. It is normal for the tongue and stool to turn black, and for a bitter taste in the mouth, ammonia smell, and nausea to occur during medication.
3. Do not drink alcohol while taking the medicine;

4. A follow-up examination is required one month after the treatment is completed. If the effect is not good, the doctor will adjust the treatment plan.