Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) is a bacteria that can infect the human stomach. The bacteria lives in the lining of the stomach and the chemicals it produces can cause inflammation of the stomach lining.
H. Pylori can cause a number of diseases including:
- Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)- common
- Duodenal Ulcers (in small bowel just beyond the stomach)- uncommon
- Stomach (gastric) ulcers – uncommon
- Some cancers of the stomach – rare
Most people that are infected with H Pylori never actually develop symptoms. It is likely that the development of ulcers depends on characteristics of the infected person as well as type and strain of H Pylori present.
Helicobacter Pylori can be diagnosed in a number of different ways, such as:
- Breath tests
- Blood tests
- Endoscopy
- Stool tests