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H Pylori Infection Treatment

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects nearly half of the world's population. The stomach pain can become excruciating, resulting in ulcers and in extreme cases, stomach cancer. Treatments are available at this point, but do not guarantee curing the infection 100% the first time and often must be repeated.

  1. The H. Pylori Infection

    • Approximately one half of the world's population experiences the painful effects of H. pylori bacterial infections. In developed countries like the US, it is more common for adults to contract the infection than children. But in third world countries, the reverse is true. The bacterium is spread through the consumption of either water or food that has been contaminated with fecal matter. This happens usually through eating uncooked vegetables and swimming in contaminated water. Someone who is already infected with the bacteria can also spread it through their saliva, meaning any physical contact with a person with the h. pylori infection could result in the infection being spread.

    Symptoms

    • H. pylori symptoms can be very serious. The most common are pain in the upper abdomen, bloating in the abdominal area, loss of appetite, vomiting, very dark stools and peptic ulcers. Stomach ulcers can sometimes bleed, which will eventually cause fatigue. Research has concluded that the h. pylori infection is the leading cause of peptic ulcers. Children who develop the infection are at the greatest risk of developing stomach cancer if their symptoms are not treated properly. Diagnosing H. pylori can be done by testing either the breath, stool or blood samples.

    Treatments

    • Medications are available to treat the symptoms of H. pylori, but there is currently no medicine that cures the infection 100 percent of the time. Most treatment involves medications that suppress acid: H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. In addition, antibiotics are prescribed to help combat the infection. These include metronidazole, tetracycline, clarithromycin and amoxicillin. Overall, there is an 80% chance of successfully curing the bacteria infection, with a 20% failure rate. Patients who are not initially cured of H. pylori, will undergo the same treatment until the bacteria dissipates. Avoiding alcohol is very important as it could cause vomiting and headaches, and in some extreme cases, heart attack. People who smoke are also recommended to stop immediately, as the effects of smoking make them more susceptible to contract the infection.

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