Helicobacter pylori infection

H pylori bacteria are most likely passed directly from person to person. This tends to happen during childhood. The infection remains throughout life if not treated. It's not clear how the bacteria are passed from one person to another. The bacteria may spread from: Mouth-to-mouth contact GI tract illness…

About 10% to 15% of people infected with H pylori develop peptic ulcer disease. Small ulcers may not cause any symptoms. Some ulcers can cause serious bleeding. An aching or burning pain in your abdomen is a common symptom. The pain may be worse with an empty stomach. The pain can differ from person to person, and…

Your health care provider may test you for H pylori if you: Have peptic ulcers or a history of ulcers Have discomfort and pain in the stomach lasting more than a month Tell your provider about the medicines you take. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause ulcers. If you have an ulcer or show…

In order for your ulcer to heal and to reduce the chance it will come back, you will be given medicines to: Kill the H pylori bacteria (if present) Reduce acid levels in your stomach Take all of your medicines as you have been told. Other lifestyle changes can also help. If you have a peptic ulcer and an H pylori…

If you take your medicines, there is a good chance that the H pylori infection will be cured. You will be much less likely to get another ulcer. Sometimes, H pylori can be hard to fully cure. Repeated courses of different treatments may be needed. A stomach biopsy will sometimes be done to test the germ to see which…

A chronic infection with H pylori may lead to: Peptic ulcer disease Chronic inflammation Gastric and upper intestine ulcers Stomach cancer Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma Other complications may include: Severe blood loss Scarring from an ulcer may make it harder for the stomach to empty…

Severe symptoms that begin suddenly may indicate a blockage in the intestine, perforation, or hemorrhage, all of which are emergencies. Symptoms may include: Tarry, black, or bloody stools Severe vomiting, which may include blood or a substance with the appearance of coffee grounds (a sign of a serious hemorrhage) or…

Chan FKL, Lau JYW. Peptic ulcer disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 53. Cover TL, Blaser MJ. Helicobacter pylori and other gastric Helicobacter species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ,…