What Are the Treatments for H Pylori Infection?

The H. pylori infection is caused by Helicobacter pylori bacterium. The bacterium can cause an infection when it invades the small intestine and the stomach. It often lives inside the body without ever causing an infection, but it can spontaneously cause one that produces stomach ulcers and can lead to stomach cancer. H. pylori is difficult to treat, but treatment options do exist.

Antibiotics

• One or more antibiotics are usually prescribed in an attempt to rid the body of H. pylori. The medication is typically taken for a period of two weeks.

Stomach Acid Medication

• Proton pump inhibitor medications such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium may be recommended to reduce stomach acid so that the antibiotics can work more effectively and the stomach can heal.

Histamine (H-2) blockers

• Histamine (H-2) blockers such as Zantac and Pepcid may also be used to reduce stomach acid.

Treatment Success

• According to the National Health Institute, treatments are ineffective in about 20 percent of cases.

Repeated Treatments

• Treatments may be repeated using a different combination of antibiotics in the hopes that a different antibiotic may kill the bacterium.