About Helicobacter pylori:
- It is a common type of bacteria that grows in the digestive tractand tends to attack the stomach lining.
- It is adapted to live in the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach.
- This infection usually happens during childhood.
- Its infections are usually harmless, but they’re responsible for most ulcersin the stomach and small intestine.
- This bacterium can change the environment around it and reduce the acidity, so it can survive more easily.
- The spiral shape of H. pylori allows it to penetrate the stomach lining, where it’s protected by mucus and the body’s immune cells can’t reach it.
- Most people with H. pylori infections will never have any signs or symptoms.
- When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they are typically related to gastritis or a peptic ulcer and may include:
- An ache or burning pain in your stomach (abdomen)
- Stomach pain may be worse when your stomach is empty
- Nausea, Loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss,
- Treatment
- It typically involves a combination of antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor (a drug that reduces your stomach acid) for up to 14 days.
- This treatment is sometimes referred to as triple therapy.
