Helicobacter pylori

What is H. pylori?

H. pylori is a Gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium that infects the stomach and duodenum (first part of the small intestine).

Transmission:

1. Person-to-person contact
2. Contaminated food and water
3. Poor hygiene
Infections and Diseases:

1. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
2. Peptic ulcers (stomach and duodenal ulcers)
3. Gastric cancer
4. Duodenal cancer
5. MALT lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma)

Symptoms:

1. Abdominal pain
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Bloating and gas
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight loss
Diagnosis:

1. Endoscopy with biopsy
2. Urea breath test (UBT)
3. Stool antigen test
4. Blood tests (serology)
5. Histology (tissue examination)

Treatment:

1. Triple therapy: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) +

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