Helicobacter pylori, usually shortened to H. pylori, is a type of bacteria that lives in the stomach lining. It is very common, and many people carry it for years without knowing. In some people it causes irritation, ulcers, and other problems. The good news is that H. pylori is easy to test for and, in most cases, can be cured with a short course of treatment. Here is what it does and how we handle it.
What H. Pylori Is
H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacteria that can survive in the harsh acid of the stomach. It weakens the protective lining, which leaves the stomach and the first part of the small intestine open to irritation from acid. Most people pick it up in childhood, likely through close contact or contaminated food and water.
Symptoms
Many people with H. pylori have no symptoms at all. When symptoms do show up, they can include:
- A dull or burning pain in the upper belly, often when the stomach is empty
- Bloating and frequent burping
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Feeling full quickly
- Unintended weight loss in some cases
Conditions It Can Cause
- Gastritis: inflammation of the stomach lining.
- Peptic ulcers: open sores in the stomach or upper small intestine that can cause pain and, in some cases, bleeding.
- Higher stomach cancer risk: long-term infection raises the risk of certain stomach cancers, which is a key reason we treat it.
How We Test for It
There are a few reliable ways to check for H. pylori:
- Breath test: you swallow a special solution and breathe into a bag. It is accurate and noninvasive.
- Stool test: a stool sample is checked for signs of the bacteria.
- Endoscopy with biopsy: during an upper endoscopy, I can take a small tissue sample to test directly, which is useful when you also have other symptoms that need a closer look.
Some medications, including acid reducers and antibiotics, can affect test results, so follow the instructions our office gives you before testing.
Treatment
H. pylori is treated with a combination of medications, usually two antibiotics plus an acid-reducing medication, taken for one to two weeks. Taking every dose and finishing the full course is important, because stopping early is the most common reason treatment fails and the bacteria comes back. A few weeks after you finish, I usually confirm the infection is gone with a repeat breath or stool test.
After Treatment
Once the infection is cleared and the lining heals, symptoms usually improve and ulcers tend to stay away. If symptoms return or testing shows the bacteria is still present, a different combination of medications often does the job.
Talk to a Gastroenterologist in Mountainside, NJ
If your symptoms keep coming back or you are not sure what is causing them, Dr. Amber Khan can help. We see patients from across Union County and New Jersey.