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Treatments for Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacterium that can be found within your stomach or small intestines. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly two-thirds of people worldwide have an H. pylori infection. H.pylori is responsible for many type of ulcers, such as gastric and duodenal ulcers. H. pylori can cause symptoms of burning within the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, frequent belching, and weight loss. A combined treatment of antibiotics and medications to reduce stomach acid can help with a H. pylori infection.

  1. Antibiotics

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control, when you have a H. pylori infection, you'll be put on antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or tetracycline for up to two weeks. You may have to take a combination of antibiotics to prevent the H. pylori from building up a resistance to just one antibiotic. Once your treatment is finished, a breath test or an endoscopy (to retrieve a biopsy) will be performed to ensure that the bacterium has been eradicated.

    Proton Pump Inhibitors

    • Proton pump inhibitors work by shutting down the production of stomach acid. Within your stomach are cells that secrete acid. Medications such as Prilosec or Prevacid can help reduce acid, as well as help alleviate ulcer-type symptoms such as inflammation of the esophagus and stomach. Used in conjunction with antibiotics, they can help eliminate H. pylori.

    Histamine Blockers

    • Your body produces histamines, which are responsible for regulating your immune response to foreign substances. Histamines also help to regulate the functions within your stomach. When your stomach produces acid, histamines can respond by causing your stomach cells to produce excess gastric acid. Histamine blockers, or H-2 blockers can help to stop the amount of produced gastric acid, as well as help with the relief of heartburn, and indigestion.

    Complications

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, while many people who have H. pylori will never develop symptoms, there are some who can have serious complications. H. pylori can result in ulcers of the intestines. You can also develop gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining. H. pylori may also cause some types of stomach cancer as well.

    Causes

    • H. pylori can be spread from person-to-person through saliva or fecal matter. The bacterium is also found in untreated water. Normally when a bacteria enters your stomach, your stomach acids are strong enough to kill off many types of bacteria. This isn't the case with H. pylori. According to the Mayo Clinic, H. pylori is able to produce an enzyme that can create a safe haven for itself. H. pylori is strong enough to adapt and survive within your stomach.

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