If one person is infected, the whole family will be infected. This bacteria is the culprit of many stomach problems!

Recently, a man in Nanjing, Jiangsu suffered from stomach pain and discomfort, and later tested positive for Helicobacter pylori infection in his entire family.

(Photo: Screenshot from Lizhi News)

Coincidentally, last year, Ms. Sun from Nanjing found that her Helicobacter pylori level was above the standard. The doctor who examined her said that this might be related to her frequent gatherings. What is even more shocking is that there are a total of 8 people in the office, and 4 of them were found to have excessive levels of Helicobacter pylori.

Now, it is the time for year-end physical examinations, and many people have found abnormal Helicobacter pylori indicators on their physical examination reports. Is there any abnormal Helicobacter pylori indicator on your physical examination report?

01
What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the most common bacterium that causes chronic infection in humans. It can damage the gastric mucosa and is a type of carcinogen. After entering the acidic environment of the human stomach, it grows and reproduces, causing tissue damage and inducing inflammatory and immune responses.

Main health hazards:

indigestion

Iron deficiency anemia

Causes peptic ulcer

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

Increased risk of stomach cancer

According to the "Expert Consensus on Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Gastric Cancer Prevention and Control in China in 2019", a survey on Helicobacter pylori infection in 51,025 people undergoing physical examinations in 24 regions in China from 2005 to 2011 showed that the overall infection rate was 49.5%; there were differences in the infection rates among people of different age groups; it is worth noting that the infection rate in people under 20 years old is as high as 37.1%.

02
How does Helicobacter pylori infect so many people?

Scientists speculate that there are two main pathways:

Spread by word of mouth

"Fecal-oral route of transmission

However, with the continuous development of public health, the "fecal-oral" transmission will be controlled. At present, more attention should be paid to the "oral-oral" transmission route.

① Dining table communication

Whether the family is dining together or dining out, not using serving chopsticks and passing food to each other may cause infection.

② Stimulating food

Since irritating foods can easily irritate the gastric mucosa, the stomach's resistance will decrease, which can lead to the invasion of Helicobacter pylori.

③ Eat raw

Many people love Western and Japanese food. They eat steaks cooked to medium-rare or even rare, and eat hot pot meat before it is cooked through. This creates a hidden danger of Helicobacter pylori infection.

④ Kiss

Helicobacter pylori can also be detected in saliva. If couples kiss deeply or adults kiss children, the transmission of Helicobacter pylori will be unimpeded.

03
How to prevent and treat Helicobacter pylori?

5 ways to prevent infection:

① Disinfection of tableware and separate meals can prevent

② Do not eat raw food or food that is too hot

③ Do not feed your baby mouth to mouth

④ Wash hands and clean mouth promptly

⑤ High-risk groups should have regular physical examinations

When you go to the hospital for a physical examination, you can effectively detect Helicobacter pylori through gastroscopy and carbon 13 urea breath test. Once diagnosed, you should go to a regular hospital as soon as possible. People at high risk of Helicobacter pylori should undergo gastroscopy every 2 to 3 years. Adults under 50 years old need to undergo gastroscopy every 3 years; those over 50 years old need to undergo gastroscopy every 2 years.

04
Can Helicobacter pylori be cured?

Through regular treatment, Helicobacter pylori can be cured.

Su Lin, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at Peking University People's Hospital, said: "The treatment of Helicobacter pylori requires a triple or quadruple regimen. Currently, a quadruple regimen is usually used, with a 14-day course of treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. After two weeks of antibacterial treatment, the drug is discontinued for one month, and a carbon 13 or carbon 14 breath test is repeated to determine whether eradication is successful. The success rate is about 60% to 70%. If eradication fails, it is recommended to perform a second eradication three months later."

To do the above,

To a certain extent,

Reduce the risk of Helicobacter pylori transmission.

Attention! There are more dinner parties at the end of the year.

Friends, please use serving spoons and chopsticks.

Avoid Helicobacter pylori infection!