Helicobacter Pylori is a bacterium that causes stomach infections which is usually diagnosed in the form of chronic gastritis. The mechanism of transmission is through the oral route and can occur by ingesting contaminated food or water. This time, Dr. Fernando Salazar Muente, gastroenterologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, will give us more information

Symptoms

The vast majority of people who have this bacteria have no symptoms. However, less than a third of them will have abdominal discomfort, bloating, a feeling of fullness, pain in the pit of the stomach, among others

Diagnosis

It can be diagnosed in different ways, such as:

• Blood tests
• Breath tests
• Stool tests

On the other hand, if the gastric wall needs to be evaluated to see how damaged it is by infection, endoscopy with biopsies is another option

Treatment

Removing bacteria from the stomach is often complicated and requires effort. Therefore, the treatment usually consists of taking two antibiotics together with other medications indicated by the specialist. It lasts approximately 10 to 14 days with the probability of eliminating the bacteria in 84% to 95%

Complications

There are several types of Helicobacter Pylori bacteria, those that are pro-oncological can trigger gastric cancer, while other varieties are usually more ulcerogenic, often causing severe acute damage to the stomach and duodenum

Prevention

This bacterium spreads in environments with poor hygiene. For this reason, it is extremely important to wash your hands before and after meals, properly wash fruits and vegetables and avoid consuming water or soft drinks of dubious origin

Dr. Fernando Salazar Muente
Gastroenterologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma