Abdominal pain that may:
- Awaken you from sleep
- Change when you eat
- Last for a few minutes or several hours
- Feel like unusually strong hunger pangs
Nausea or vomiting
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bloating
Black, tarry, or bloody stools
Burping
Vomiting blood
Lightheadedness

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done.

Tests may include:

Urea breath test—looks for gases made by H. pylori in your breath
Look for signs of H. pylori through:
- Blood tests
- Stool test
Endoscopy—a tube is passed down the throat. A sample of fluid or tissue will be removed. Lab tests will show if H. pylori is there.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to get rid of H. pylori. Antibiotics will treat the infection.

Damage to the stomach may take some time to heal. Symptoms may be managed with medicine such as:

H2 blockers
Proton pump inhibitors
Antacids

Tests for H. pylori may need to be repeated. They will make sure the infection is gone. Scopes of the stomach may also be repeated to make sure the area is healing.

Prevention

H. pylori may be spread through food and water. Steps to prevent this type of infection include:

Wash your hands after using the bathroom. Wash before eating or making meals.
Drink water from a safe source.

RESOURCES:

American College of Gastroenterology
http://patients.gi.org

American Gastroenterological Association
http://www.gastro.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
https://www.cag-acg.org

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
http://www.cdhf.ca

References:

Helicobacter pylori infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 28, 2021.

Travelers health: Helicobacter pylori. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/helicobacter-pylori. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Weyermann M, Rothenbacher D, Brenner H. Acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in early childhood: independent contributions of infected mothers, fathers, and siblings. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009;104(1):182-189.

9/22/2014 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed... : Fuccio L, Zagari RM, Eusebi LH. Meta-analysis: Can Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment reduce the risk for gastric cancer? Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(2):121-128.

Last reviewed March 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Chelsea Skucek, MSN, BS, RNC-NIC
Last Updated: 1/28/2021

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