The bacteria Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, can infect the lining of your stomach and upper part of your small intestine (the duodenum). It causes sores and inflammation and may lead to peptic ulcers. Chronic H. pylori infection increases the risk of developing stomach cancer and other health problems. Most people with H. pylori infections do not have symptoms. But for those who do, treatment can help reduce symptoms and prevent further problems.
About two-thirds of the world’s population has H. pylori in their bodies. Infection with this germ usually starts in childhood and continues throughout adulthood. Infection is more common in poorer countries and in children. People who have a chronic (long-lasting) stomach or duodenal ulcer often have H. pylori. It is not clear why. Some people who have the infection may never have symptoms or may have mild or moderate symptoms such as burning pain, fullness and a bitter taste in the mouth. It is also not known why some people are more sensitive to the harmful effects of H. pylori.
People who have a peptic ulcer caused by H. pylori need to get treated to cure the infection. Treatment with antibiotics and acid-reducing medicines can cure the infection in about two weeks. It is important to take all the medicine prescribed.
Many people find it easier to swallow pills than liquids. If you have difficulty taking medications, talk to your doctor about other ways to treat the infection. You might be able to reduce your dose of the antibiotics or switch to another medication that works just as well.
There are several tests you can have to see if you have an infection. One is a breath test called the urea breath test or UBT. You breathe into a bag before and after you drink a solution that contains a substance called urea. The bacteria in your body break down the urea and release carbon dioxide into the bag. The higher the level of carbon dioxide in the second sample, the more H. pylori you have. Another test is a blood test that checks for antibodies to H. pylori. You can have a stool test or an endoscopy with biopsy to check for H. pylori in your stomach or intestine lining. During this test, your doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera into your throat and stomach to get a tissue sample.
The most effective treatment for an H. pylori infection is a combination of medicines. The antibiotics kill the bacteria and the other medicine decreases your stomach’s production of acid, which helps the ulcer heal. The most commonly used treatment is bismuth quadruple therapy: a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or histamine-2 blocker with bismuth, clarithromycin and either metronidazole or tetracycline. The antibiotics are given for 14 days to give the best chance of killing all the bacteria in your body. The longer the course of medicines, the more likely you are to be cured.