How does helicobacter pylori cause peptic ulcers

The American Journal of Gastroenterology reported a high number of resistant H. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem across the globe. The CDC say that more than 23, people die each year as a result of an antibiotic-resistant infection.

Many people may have heard of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA , but there are many other types of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.

Everyone can do their part to help fight the problem of antibiotic resistance. The CDC say that people should:.

Fortunately, H. Quick treatment will help prevent damage to the stomach and the possible problems of ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer.

Esophageal ulcers are a type of peptic ulcer that develops between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms include pain or a burning sensation behind or…. More than 60 million Americans are said to have acid reflux regularly, and it causes numerous hospital admissions.

Read about risk factors, including…. What are the symptoms of peptic ulcers? Find out here along with information on the most common causes and effective treatments for peptic ulcers. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is the long-term, regular occurrence of acid reflux. This can cause heartburn and tissue damage, among other…. Salmonella are bacteria that can infect the intestinal tract, leading to diarrhea and other symptoms. Learn all about the infection and what to do if….

What's to know about H. Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Symptoms of an infection Testing and treatment Antibiotic resistance Helicobacter pylori, commonly called H.

Share on Pinterest H. How do you get H. Both the acid and the bacteria irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer. This mechanism allows H. Diagnosing an Ulcer To see whether symptoms are caused by an ulcer, the doctor may do an upper gastrointestinal GI series or an endoscopy.

Upper GI series — An x-ray of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The patient drinks a chalky liquid, called barium, to make these organs and any ulcers show up more clearly on the x-ray. Endoscopy — An exam that uses an endoscope, a thin, lighted tube with a tiny camera on the end. The patient is lightly sedated, and the doctor carefully eases the endoscope into the mouth and down the throat to the stomach and duodenum.

This allows the doctor to see the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The doctor can use the endoscope to take photos of ulcers or remove a tiny piece of tissue to view under a microscope. Diagnosing H. This test is important because treatment for an ulcer caused by H. Blood tests are most common. They detect antibodies to H. Urea breath tests are an effective diagnostic method for H.

They are also used after treatment to see whether it worked. The blood carries the carbon to the lungs, where the patient exhales it.

The breath test is 96 percent to 98 percent accurate. Stool tests may be used to detect H. Studies have shown that this test, called the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen HpSA test, is accurate for diagnosing H. Tissue tests are usually done using the biopsy sample that is removed with the endoscope. There are three types:. In diagnosing H. However, blood tests are not used to detect H. Drugs Used to Treat H.

Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria. Two types of acid-suppressing drugs might be used: H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. H2 blockers work by blocking histamine, which stimulates acid secretion. They help reduce ulcer pain after a few weeks. Proton pump inhibitors suppress acid production by halting the mechanism that pumps the acid into the stomach.

H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors have been prescribed alone for years as treatments for ulcers. But used alone, these drugs do not eradicate H.

Bismuth subsalicylate, a component of Pepto-Bismol, is used to protect the stomach lining from acid. Most side effects can be treated with medication withdrawal. Nevertheless, recent studies show that 2 weeks of triple therapy is ideal. Early results of studies in other countries suggest that 1 week of triple therapy may be as effective as the 2-week therapy, with fewer side effects.

Another option is 2 weeks of dual therapy. Dual therapy involves two drugs: one antibiotic and one acid suppressor. It is not as effective as triple therapy. Two weeks of quadruple therapy, which uses two antibiotics, an acid suppressor, and a stomach lining shield, looks promising in research studies. It is also called bismuth triple therapy. To be sure that treatment has killed all H.

No one knows for sure how H. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine to prevent infection. Changing medical belief and practice takes time. For nearly years, scientists and doctors thought that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy food, and alcohol. Treatment involved bed rest and a bland diet. Later, researchers added stomach acid to the list of causes and began treating ulcers with antacids. Since H. The National Institutes of Health released a consensus statement in confirming that H.

Despite the evidence, however, the medical community continues to debate H. If you have a peptic ulcer and have not been tested for H. Podolski, J. Recent advances in peptic ulcer disease: H. Gastroenterology Nursing, 19 4 , Soll, A. Medical treatment of peptic ulcer disease: Practice guidelines. Journal of the American Medical Association, 8 , National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director. NIH consensus statement: Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease Vol.

The U. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Brand names appearing in this publication are used only because they are considered essential in the context of the information. Public Health Service. Established in , the clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public.