Helicobacter Pylori

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori) is a form of bacteria. It lives in the mucous that coats the inner lining of the stomach and duodenum. It is usually a life long infection and in most cases causes no problems. However, it is often associated with peptic ulcer.

What is a peptic ulcer?

Peptic ulcers look like mouth ulcers. They are sensitive raw areas where inner lining of the stomach or duodenum has broken down. There are two kinds of peptic ulcer; gastric (in the stomach) and duodenal (in the duodenum).

H Pylori is an important cause of peptic ulcers. H Pylori acts as an irritant to the lining of the stomach, which causes in ammation of the stomach (gastritis). A combination of factors may contribute to causing ulcers of the stomach or duodenum. These include H Pylori, gastric acid, genetic background, use of aspirin or drugs for arthritis and cigarette smoking.

Removing the H Pylori infection can give a permanent cure for most gastric and duodenal ulcers (with the exception for some people taking Aspirin and arthritic drugs).

How i got infected with H pylori?

H Pylori are a germ that can only infect human beings. It is still not certain how this germ moves from the stomach of one person to the next. Data indicates that most people get the bacteria in early childhood. However, some people get the bacteria in later life. Good hygiene in the home seems to lower the risk.

How H pylori infection is diagnosed?

An Upper GI Endoscopy (UGIE) – where a long thin tube with a tiny camera is passed down the oesophagus (food pipe) and into the stomach. Classic appearance of H pylori infection can suggest the diagnosis. A small tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken for further testing.

CLO Test - Done using a small tissue sample (biopsy) taken during the UGIE. This test will indirectly check for the Helicobacter pylori infection.

Biopsy histology - will directly check for the presence of gastritis, it’s severity, presence of cancer or cancer forming cells, H pylori infection and any other change in the inner lining of the stomach.

H. pylori antibodies - It is possible to detect these antibodies by having a blood test. If detected, this suggests active or past H. pylori infection.

H. pylori antigens - a ‘faecal antigen test’ - a small stool sample is tested for evidence of H Pylori. This is a very sensitive test and will tell us whether or not H Pylori is in your stomach at the time of testing. It won’t show past infection.

How can a I get rid of H Pylori infection?

Removing bacteria from the stomach can be very difficult. However, H Pylori usually responds well to certain antibiotics. 90% of H Pylori infections can be removed if the course of treatment is completed. Sometimes a second course of treatment with different antibiotics is needed and even then the treatment may be unsuccessful.

Most treatments for H Pylori involve taking 3 types of drugs, usually for 7 days. They consist of two antibiotics and a drug to stop acid production by the stomach. This helps the antibiotics to work more effectively. The treatment may cause side effects, including abnormal taste, nausea or mild diarrhoea. Alcohol should be avoided when taking some of the medication.