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What is H. pylori infection? — Helicobacter pylori infection occurs when a type of bacteria called "H. pylori" infects a person's stomach.
Many people have H. pylori infection. In some cases, H. pylori infection can lead to problems that can cause symptoms. These problems can include:
●Open sores, called "ulcers," on the lining of a person's stomach or duodenum – The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine (figure 1).
●Stomach cancer
These conditions can sometimes cause pain or discomfort in the upper belly, nausea, or vomiting.
Doctors do not know why H. pylori infection leads to problems in some people and not others.
What are the symptoms of H. pylori infection? — Most people with H. pylori infection have no symptoms. But people who have ulcers can have symptoms that are caused by the ulcers.
Common symptoms of ulcers can include:
●Pain or discomfort in the upper belly
●Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
●Not feeling hungry
●Nausea or vomiting
●Dark or black-colored bowel movements
●Feeling more tired than usual
Not all ulcers are caused by H. pylori infection. For example, people can get ulcers from taking certain pain-relieving medicines. But if you have the symptoms listed above, let your doctor or nurse know.
Is there a test for H. pylori infection? — Yes. Doctors can do different tests to diagnose H. pylori infection. These can include:
●Blood tests
●Breath tests – These tests measure substances in a person's breath after they drink a special liquid.
●Stool tests – These are tests to check a sample of a bowel movement, or "stool," for H. pylori infection.
●Biopsy – For this test, a doctor takes a small piece of tissue from the lining of the stomach. Then, they look at the tissue under a microscope. A doctor can do a biopsy during an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure that lets a doctor look at the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Should I be tested for H. pylori infection? — You should be tested for H. pylori infection if you have symptoms and:
●Have an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum
●Have had ulcers in the past
●Have had stomach cancer
●Need to take an antiinflammatory medicine or aspirin for a long time
Doctors also sometimes test people with symptoms who have never had an ulcer.
How is H. pylori infection treated? — H. pylori infection is treated with medicines. Most people need to take 3 or more medicines for 2 weeks. These can include:
●Medicines to reduce the amount of acid that the stomach makes – This can help cure the infection and help ulcers heal.
●Different types of antibiotics
People who are diagnosed with H. pylori infection should get treated, because treatment can:
●Help ulcers heal
●Keep ulcers from coming back
●Reduce the chance that an ulcer will get worse or lead to cancer
Follow all of your doctor's instructions about taking your medicines. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any side effects or problems with your medicines.
What happens after treatment? — After treatment, most people have follow-up tests to check that the H. pylori infection went away. Follow-up tests can include:
●Breath tests
●Lab tests that check a sample of a bowel movement
●Upper endoscopy with biopsy
Most of the time, H. pylori infection is cured with treatment. But people who still have H. pylori infection after being treated might need to take more medicines.
Can H. pylori be prevented? — H. pylori infection can be passed from one person to another. Some ways to help keep others safe:
●Avoid touching the saliva, vomit, or bowel movements of anyone who has H. pylori infection.
●Wash your hands with soap and water. This is especially important after going to the bathroom or changing diapers and before cooking or preparing food.
●Only drink water from safe sources. Avoid bathing or swimming in contaminated water.
When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:
●You vomit and notice blood or something that looks like coffee grounds.
●Your stools have blood in them or are black or tar colored.
●You start having severe pain in your belly.
●Your belly becomes hard or swollen or hurts if you press on it.
●You start to feel very weak, lightheaded, or like you might pass out.
Patient education: Peptic ulcers (The Basics)
Patient education: Stomach polyps (The Basics)
Patient education: Anemia caused by low iron (The Basics)
Patient education: Nausea and vomiting in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Helicobacter pylori infection and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Peptic ulcer disease (Beyond the Basics)
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