Helicobacter pylori: what kind of bacterium it is and how infection occurs

The diagnosis "Helicobacter pylori" sounds as if something from a horror movie has taken up residence in the body. In fact, Helicobacter pylori is an ordinary bacterium that very many people live with, and in most of them it causes no symptoms at all. Let us calmly explain what this microorganism is, where it comes from, and what gastritis and ulcers have to do with it.

What Helicobacter pylori is

It is a spiral-shaped gram-negative bacterium that infects various parts of the stomach and duodenum. It received the genus name Helicobacter precisely because of its spiral shape.

It is widespread: about 30–40% of people in the United States have this infection, and most become infected in childhood. At the same time, up to 90% of infected people have no symptoms at all — carriage does not equal disease.

H. pylori is the main cause of peptic ulcers, and it is also linked to gastritis and stomach cancer.

How the bacterium survives in the stomach

For a long time it was believed that no microorganism could survive in the acidic contents of the stomach, so the bacterium's role was reluctantly acknowledged. Barry Marshall deliberately drank a culture of H. pylori, after which he developed gastritis, and this helped prove the link; in 2005 he and Robin Warren received the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Its spiral shape helps it penetrate the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum and move through the mucous gel that covers the mucosa. In some people the bacterium destroys the stomach's inner protective layer and causes inflammation — this is how gastritis or an ulcer develops.

What causes Helicobacter: routes of infection

The honest answer: researchers do not know exactly how H. pylori spreads. The main assumptions are contaminated food and water, as well as contact with the saliva and other biological fluids of an infected person. There is no vaccine against this infection.

• wash hands after using the toilet and before eating;
• eat properly cooked food;
• drink water from a clean and safe source.

Which diseases are linked to the infection: gastritis and stomach ulcer

H. pylori is the main cause of peptic ulcers, that is, ulcers of the stomach and duodenum: according to refined data, 38% of stomach ulcers and 56% of duodenal ulcers worldwide are linked to this infection. The bacterium is also linked to gastritis, duodenitis, and stomach cancer.

Ulcer symptoms: pain in the upper abdomen, often burning, frequently worse at night. There may be indigestion, heartburn, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. The pain lasts from minutes to hours and may return over several days or weeks, especially on an empty stomach.

And now let us debunk a myth: an ulcer is not caused by stress or spicy food. The main causes of stomach ulcer are H. pylori infection and regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen. Ulcers are more common in smokers, and the risk increases with age; stress and spicy food can worsen symptoms but are not the cause of an ulcer.

How the infection is detected: main diagnostic methods

If a doctor suspects an ulcer, they may order a breath test for H. pylori (you need to take a special preparation or drink a solution and breathe into a tube), a stool test, and a blood test. The doctor may be interested in your weight and will palpate your abdomen. In some cases you are referred for gastroscopy — a flexible tube with a camera passed through the mouth into the stomach, often with a biopsy. After treatment, a repeat test may be needed to make sure the infection is gone.

Possible risks and when to see a doctor

Without treatment, an ulcer can lead to complications: bleeding from the stomach or intestines, iron-deficiency anemia, a hole in the stomach with peritonitis. Untreated H. pylori infection increases the risk of stomach cancer.

It makes sense to see a doctor if indigestion does not resolve with treatment and abdominal pain returns. Seek an urgent appointment: pain intensifies or does not go away; loss of appetite; a feeling of fullness after a very small amount of food; weight loss without trying to lose weight; a feeling of a lump in the abdomen; painful or difficult swallowing; persistent vomiting; persistent fatigue.

A diagnosis of Helicobacter is not in itself a reason to call an ambulance. 103 or 112 — if vomiting of blood or coffee-ground material has begun; there is blood in the stool or the stool is black, sticky, and very foul-smelling; severe abdominal pain; the abdomen is painful to touch; sudden chest pain.

This material is for reference: it helps you understand what you are dealing with, but it does not replace a doctor's consultation — the decision on examination and treatment is made by the doctor.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer