Helicobacter pylori: The silent enemy of health

Helicobacter pylori (also known as H.Pylori) is a bacteria that lives in the stomach, is transmitted from person to person through contact, eating without hygiene. Most infected people do not have any symptoms. However, that doesn't mean we can take them lightly. So how to have a more correct view of this? Let's go to today's post together. 

content

• 1. What to know about Helicobacter pylori?
• 2. Who is at risk of contracting this bacteria?
• 3. What symptoms does Helicobacter pylori infection cause?
• 4. How is Helicobacter pylori diagnosed?
• 5. Everyone needs diagnostic testing right?
• 6. How is Helicobacter pylori infection treated?
• 7. How is the follow-up after treatment?
• 8. What can I do to limit the spread of H.Pylori?

1. What to know about Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (also known as H.Pylori) is a bacteria capable of entering the body and living in the harsh environment of the stomach.  

H. pylori infection is very common. About half of the world's population has it inside the body. These bacteria are thought to be spread through contaminated water or secretions of healthy carriers (such as saliva, feces, etc.). Most infections are acquired during childhood, especially in developing countries.

H.Pylori infection causes few symptoms but absolutely cannot be ignored

A simple H.Pylori infection usually does not cause any unpleasant symptoms in the majority of cases. However, in a small number of people, they can cause serious health problems such as:

• Gastritis.
• Stomach ulcer .
• Stomach cancer .

2. Who is at risk of contracting this bacteria?

The bacteria can be passed from one person to another through direct contact with an infected person's secretions (e.g. saliva, vomit, etc.). In addition, the bacteria can also be spread through contaminated food or water.

Therefore, risk factors for H. pylori infection are often associated with unsafe living conditions, such as living in:

• Developing countries.
• Crowded, unsanitary places.
• Where there is no reliable supply of clean water.
• Living with someone infected with H. pylori.

3. What symptoms does Helicobacter pylori infection cause?

Most people infected with H. pylori alone do not have any suggestive signs or symptoms.

However, if you have an ulcer caused by H.Pylori, you may feel

Dull pain in the area above the belly button , constant or intermittent, and worse when the stomach is empty, such as between meals or in the middle of the night. The pain can last for a few minutes or for hours and improves after eating or using an antacid.

Abdominal pain above the navel is a common symptom when patients have ulcers caused by H.Pylori .

• Flatulence, heartburn.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Unintentional weight loss.

Worse, ulcers can cause bleeding into your stomach or intestines , which is dangerous to your health. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• The stools are bloody, dark red or black, viscous, with a fishy odor.
• Shortness of breath.
• Vomiting that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Tired often.
• Pale skin.

4. How is Helicobacter pylori diagnosed?

To confirm the diagnosis of bacteria, we need to support tests such as:

• Blood tests (serology or antibody tests) are now deprecated because of their low accuracy. Furthermore, a blood test cannot help you distinguish a past infection from an active infection now.

Blood tests are currently rarely used to diagnose H.Pylori . infection

• Stool test.
• Breath test . First, you swallow a pill or liquid that contains labeled carbon molecules. This is followed by breathing into a bag (or a bubble) and the lab uses a special device to detect these labeled carbon molecules. If detected, you are infected with H.Pylori and vice versa. This test can be used by both adults and children.

Breath tests are increasingly used to diagnose HP infection

Note: For both tests to give reliable results, it is necessary to stop taking acid-reducing drugs (such as Prilosec, Nexium, Protonix) for two weeks and avoid products containing bismuth (such as Pepto-Bismol). or antibiotics for four weeks before the test.

• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy. Despite its high accuracy and direct view of the gastrointestinal tract, this test is not generally used to diagnose H. pylori infection alone because it is more invasive than other tests. 

5. Everyone needs diagnostic testing right?

The answer is NO, not everyone . Testing is considered in the following specific cases:

• If you have symptoms – Testing for H. pylori infection is recommended if you currently have an active stomach or duodenal ulcer or have had an ulcer in the past that has not been cured.
• If you have no symptoms – Testing for H. pylori is not usually recommended if you have no symptoms and no history of peptic ulcer disease. However, it may be considered for special circumstances, such as those with a family history or concerns about stomach cancer, especially those of Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Japanese descent. Central America because these groups of people have higher rates of stomach cancer.

It's best to talk to your doctor to find the most appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring plan for your particular case.

6. How is Helicobacter pylori infection treated?

Treatment of H.pylori infection is challenging. If you have an ulcer caused by H. pylori, you will need treatment to kill the germs, heal the stomach lining, and prevent the ulcer from returning using a combination of three or four medicines, several times a day, within 14 days.

Increasing antibiotic resistance makes it increasingly difficult to treat infections. Treatments are about 80% effective, but the cure rate depends on choosing the right drug combination, taking it correctly, and following the entire course of treatment.

Commonly selected drug classes include:

• Antibiotics – to kill bacteria in your body, such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin), metronidazole ( Flagyl ), tetracycline (Sumycin), or tinidazole (Tindamax)
• Bismuth subsalicylate – can also help kill H. pylori along with antibiotics.
• Proton channel inhibitors (PPIs) – reduce the amount of acid in the stomach by blocking the small pumps that make it. Common names such as esomeprazole ( Nexium ), omeprazole (Prilosec) or pantoprazole (Protonix), etc.
• Antihistamines , which cause your stomach to make less acid. These include: cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Fluxid, Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), or ranitidine ( Zantac ).

However, it should also be noted that you should not arbitrarily combine the above drugs without the permission of your doctor. Indiscriminate use can bring about unwanted side effects.

7. How is the follow-up after treatment?

Most experts recommend retesting four weeks or more after treatment ends to confirm whether the infection has been cured.

If treatment fails the first time, we need to try again with another combination of antibiotics and acid suppressants. If after many treatments still fail, this time may need to resort to endoscopy and perform antibiogram to determine exactly which antibiotic is able to kill the bacteria.

8. What can I do to limit the spread of H.Pylori?

You can limit yourself from getting an H. pylori infection with these simple steps:

• Wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating or cooking food.
• Avoid unsafe food or water.
• Eat cooked, drink boiled.
• Do not share food with others.

Helicobacter Pylori is a silent enemy of health. However, not everyone needs to have tests to screen for this bacteria. Only cases with existing or existing ulcers should be diagnosed and treated. Treatment of H.Pylori is really a challenge, patients need to strictly follow the doctor's instructions to achieve the desired effect and limit drug resistance.

Please share so everyone knows you!