Approximately half of the world’s population has been infected with the bacteria H. pylori. Most people will never experience symptoms or even know they carry the bacteria.
H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori. The root ‘Helico’ means spiral, which is the shape of the bacteria. It’s the world’s most common chronic infection.
It grows in the inner lining of the stomach and can cause gastrointestinal issues for the unlucky 30 per cent of people carrying the bacteria who experience symptoms. H. pylori produces an enzyme that can neutralize stomach acid and weaken the stomach’s lining, decreasing its defences.
Your stomach can no longer protect itself against harsh digestive fluids or the H. pylori bacteria, which can stick to stomach cells. The impacted area becomes inflamed and can develop sores or ulcers.
H. pylori is the number one cause of peptic ulcers and can also lead to gastritis (inflammation which often precedes an ulcer) and colon/stomach/MALT cancer. Approximately 1 in 10 people carrying the bacteria will develop an ulcer. Only 3 in 100 people will develop cancer.
Insider fact: Barry Marshall discovered that H. pylori causes ulcers in what you could call a non-traditional way. He saw that all his patients presenting with ulcers also had this bacteria, and though he was convinced of the connection, he couldn’t make a case without proof and was ridiculed by the medical community. Marshall was getting desperate to prove the connection but he was unable to test his theory without a human subject because H. pylori only affects primates. He took a sample of the bacteria from an infected patient and mixed himself a drink of broth and bacteria. A week after drinking it, Marshall developed gastritis and a peptic ulcer, proving his case. Marshall and his colleague, Robin Warren, won the Nobel prize in 2005 for their efforts.
Symptoms
Often the first signs of infection are upset stomach, nausea and vomiting. As it progresses, you may experience:
Symptoms of H. pylori Infection
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Burning sensation or a feeling of fullness in the stomach
- Belching or hiccups
- Blood in the vomit or melena (black or tarry stools)
Treatment for H. Pylori
Over the years, the H. pylori treatment has become increasingly complicated. The typical treatment method relies primarily on antibiotics to kill the infection, but bacteria can develop immunity to these drugs rapidly.
For many infections, you’d be prescribed just one antibiotic which would be enough to kill off the harmful pathogens. But to treat H. pylori, you’ll be prescribed two to three different antibiotics to take simultaneously.
In conjunction with antibiotics, you will need to take a proton pump inhibitor, which reduces the amount of acid in the stomach, for the full course of treatment. Your doctor can also prescribe additional medications to soothe any symptoms caused by the bacteria.
It could take as little as 14 days to rid yourself of an infection if it’s mild to moderate and if all goes to plan.
A couple weeks after finishing the course of drugs, you’ll be tested for H. pylori again to confirm it’s gone from your system. If you still test positive, you’ll undergo another round of H. pylori treatment, possibly with different or more antibiotics.
While it’s possible to get a reinfection of H. pylori, it’s unclear how likely it is to happen, especially because researchers are still unclear on how it spreads. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it could spread through contact with the saliva, blood, or excrement of an infected person, unclean water, and improperly washed foods. More research is needed in this area.
Your Symptoms Are Telling You Something
If you’re experiencing persistent stomach discomfort, don’t ignore it. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask if getting tested for H. pylori is right for you. Early detection and treatment can prevent more serious complications like ulcers or even cancer. With the right care, this common infection doesn’t have to take a toll on your health.
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