H pylori infection refers to a condition caused by the bacterium helicobacter pylori which is usually found in the stomach
. There are no apparent symptoms in people affected with this bacterium and on most occasions there are no health problems that occur as a result of it. However, it may cause digestive problems including gastric and duodenal ulcers. The infection may aggravate to cause stomach cancer.
Research has led to the discovery of the fact that almost half of the worlds population has H. pylori present in their gastrointestinal tract. The infection is common in people of developing countries. The diagnosis of the infection is made by examining dyspeptic symptoms and by prescribing tests for H pylori infection. A noninvasive test for this infection can be conducted by prescribing a stool antigen test, an antibody blood test or a carbon urea breath test. But most physicians prefer to go for a biopsy check at the time of an endoscopy conducted along with a histological examination, a rapid urease test and a microbial culture.
This infection is often detected when bacterium leads to the development of an ulcer. The most common symptoms of the condition are
Bloating of the stomach
Dark colored stool
Discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen
Vomiting
Nausea
Feeling of being full even after consuming a small amount of food
Lack of appetite
Fatigue
Low blood count as a result of a bleeding ulcer
It is necessary to exercise additional care if you have been a patient of an active gastric ulcer, a peptic ulcer or even a duodenal ulcer. This makes the patient all the more vulnerable to this kind of an infection. Successful treatment can completely cure the ulcer and minimize the risk of any further complications.
Treatment is primarily administered through medications that are prescribed over a period of a couple of weeks depending upon the severity of the infection. Proton pump inhibitors are generally prescribed for treating this condition. Drugs that fall under this category include rabeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole. Doctors usually prescribe a couple of antibiotics to reduce the chances of a treatment failure.
It is absolutely necessary that the patient completes the prescribed course of treatment in order to be completely cured of h pylori infection. Otherwise there are chances that the infection might relapse after a period of while thus causing further harm to the health of the individual.