2023-07-07 08:21:40
Helicobacter pylori is the most infected microbe in the world’s population.
And within the 2024 edition of the “Yellow Book” of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Yellow Book), which collects the latest travel health guidelines, the centers stated: “H. About two-thirds of the world’s population has this infection, and it is more common in developing countries. It appears that short-term travelers are at low risk of H. pylori infection through travel, but expatriates and long-stay travelers may be at greater risk of infection.”
spiral bacteria
Perhaps this fact alone is sufficient to indicate the importance of knowing other facts about this germ. Here are the 6 key facts about it:
1- Although the presence of Helicobacter pylori was not known until 1982, modern medical statistics confirm that about 70 percent of the world’s population has this bacteria chronically in their upper digestive system, making it the most widespread microbe globally. Gastroenterologists at the Mayo Clinic say: “Most people with H. pylori infection do not show any signs or symptoms. It’s not clear why many people don’t develop symptoms. But some people may be born with a greater ability to resist the harmful effects of H. pylori.”
Many medical sources indicate that this infection mostly occurs during childhood. And those sources add that most of those infected with it (90 percent) do not suffer from any symptoms or signs indicating their presence. In the sense that most people with it do not realize it. Because they don’t suffer from its symptoms at all.
2- The stomach germ is found in the infected person, in saliva, vomit, or stool. pylori is usually transmitted from person to person through direct contact with the saliva, vomit, or stool of a person infected with this germ. For example, H. pylori may be spread through ingestion of food or water contaminated with this bacteria. Johns Hopkins doctors explain: “Health experts don’t know for sure how H. pylori infection spreads. They believe that this germ can be transmitted from person to person through the mouth, such as through kissing. It may also be transmitted by contact with the vomit or feces of an infected person. This may happen if you eat food that has not been cleaned or cooked in a safe way, or drink water contaminated with these bacteria. And medical sources add that infection in developed countries with H. pylori is unusual during childhood. But it becomes more common during adulthood. In contrast, in countries with limited resources, most children are infected with H. pylori before the age of 10.
Ulcers and stomach cancer
3- Helicobacter pylori infection is a factor that increases the risk of ulcers or infections in the upper digestive tract (especially the stomach and duodenum in particular). Specifically, about 10 percent of people infected with H. pylori develop ulcers.
A “peptic ulcer” is an ulcer on the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer). Among the most important complications of stomach ulcers is the occurrence of stomach bleeding, as a result of either ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, or inflammation in either of them. Stomach bleeding may cause either vomiting that contains blood, or black stools, or the bleeding is slow and for long periods, causing anemia. Not only that; In addition, its presence in the lining tissues of the upper digestive tract may cause a number of unpleasant symptoms, such as indigestion, stomach pain, flatulence… and more.
4- In the long term, infection with stomach germs may be associated with an increased risk of cancer in one of the parts of the upper digestive system. The “World Health Organization (WHO)” classifies Helicobacter pylori as a “carcinogenic factor.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds: “It is the strongest known risk factor for the type of stomach cancer that is medically called (Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinoma), which is the most common type of stomach cancer. People infected with this bacteria have a six-fold increased risk of developing stomach cancer and mucosal lymphoma associated with lymphoma (MALT), compared to their uninfected counterparts. According to medical sources, although only between 1 and 3 percent of individuals infected with stomach bacteria will develop malignant complications, this bacteria bears 15 percent of the responsibility for the total burden of all cancerous diseases worldwide. Specifically, 89 percent of all stomach cancers are attributable in part to H. pylori infection. accordingly; All major international medical bodies concerned with gastroenterology recommend that communities eradicate H. pylori in individuals who have tested positive for it and are causing gastrointestinal symptoms or disease.
Symptoms and diagnosis
5- Being aware of the possible symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection in the upper gastrointestinal tract needs attention. Gastroenterologists at the Mayo Clinic state that when signs or symptoms of H. pylori infection appear, they are usually associated with gastritis or peptic ulcer. They indicated a number of symptoms, including: soreness or burning pain in the stomach (abdomen), stomach pain that may worsen when the stomach is empty, nausea, loss of appetite, frequent belching, bloating, and unintentional weight loss.
And they added: «Visit the doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms that may be indicative of gastritis or peptic ulcer. Seek immediate medical help if you have the following symptoms: Severe or persistent stomach (abdominal) pain that may wake you from sleep. Bloody or black stools. Vomit that is bloody, black, or looks like coffee grounds.
6- If a person has symptoms, as previously mentioned, it is recommended to conduct a diagnostic test for H. pylori infection; That is, if the person suffers from chronic stomach pain, nausea, active gastric/duodenal ulcer, or has a previous history of peptic ulcer. If a person does not have symptoms, a H. pylori test is not usually recommended, unless a doctor advises it. There are several ways to diagnose H. pylori infection. The most commonly used tests include:
* Breath tests: Breath tests (known as urea breath tests) require that a specialized solution containing a substance being broken down by H. pylori be drunk, then the products of this decomposition can be detected. If it happened, in breaths. However, it should be noted that the analysis is conducted after stopping for 14 days from taking drugs to reduce stomach acid production, and after stopping taking antibiotics to treat these bacteria, for a period of 4 weeks.
Stool Antigen Test: Tests are available to detect the presence of H. pylori proteins in the stool.
Blood tests: Blood tests can detect specific antibodies (proteins) that the body’s immune system develops in response to the presence of the H. pylori bacteria. However, medical feedback on its accuracy, particularly about the extent of an active case, has limited its use.
Biopsy sample: Sometimes, the doctor takes a tissue sample from the lining of the stomach (when performing a gastroscopy), for microscopic examination to detect the presence of this germ.
Treating the stomach germ… Steps of a careful program to ensure its defeat
After documenting the diagnosis of stomach germ infection, the doctor reviews the person’s health condition; Because, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, “Asymptomatic infections generally do not require treatment. Treatment is determined on an individual basis, and treatment is for patients who suffer from active ulcers in the (duodenum) or stomach, if they are infected with (this germ).
The basis for the components of the treatment program is that the patient receives two types of antibiotics, in addition to receiving other medications, all of which are taken together during the treatment program. Gastroenterologists at the Mayo Clinic say: “H. pylori infection is usually treated with two different antibiotics (two different antibiotics in their classes) simultaneously. This helps prevent bacteria from developing resistance to one particular antibiotic.”
And the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains this by saying: “The standard and ideal treatment is the Quadruple Therapy program, and there is also the Triple Therapy program.”
It is necessary for the patient to realize the importance of knowing the components of the treatment program that the doctor proposes and prescribes to him, in order to ensure compliance in taking medications in the quantity, number of doses, and the required period; Because this compliance is key to successful treatment to achieve complete removal of these bacteria from the upper GI tract. Non-compliance is the main reason for the high rates of failure to eradicate these bacteria and the emergence of cases of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. And cases are on the rise globally.
The quadruple treatment program includes, as indicated by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 elements; she:
– One of the types of drugs from the category of “Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI)” or from the category of “Histamine Type 2 Receptor Blockers (H2-Blocker)”. The goal of either is to reduce stomach acid production; To give an opportunity to heal sores or infections in the lining of the upper digestive tract, and also stimulate the action of antibiotics to eliminate these ferocious bacteria. And the best, if available, are drugs from the category of “proton pump inhibitors”; Because it is more effective and more powerful than the “class of histamine receptor blockers” type “2” drugs, in reducing stomach acid production. Proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and pantoprazole (Protonex).
– Bismuth: It is a class of drugs that protect the stomach lining. These medications protect the lining of the stomach from acid and help kill bacteria. That is, it works by covering the ulcer and protecting it from stomach acid.
Metronidazole antibiotic.
Tetracycline antibiotic.
Triple therapy consists of the following elements:
It is a proton pump inhibitor class of drugs.
Clarithromycin antibiotic.
Either the antibiotic «Amoxicillin» or the antibiotic «Metronidazole».
Regarding the duration of the treatment program, she explains, “The longer treatment periods (14 days versus 7 days) provide higher success rates in eradication.” And the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention follows, saying: “More recently, combination therapies using (Rifabutin) have become available, especially for antibiotic-resistant cases.”
Mayo Clinic gastroenterologists add: “Your doctor may recommend a repeat H. pylori test at least 4 weeks after your treatment. And in the event that the tests show that the treatment is not effective in eliminating the infection, you may need another treatment using a different group of antibiotics.
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#facts #stomach #germ