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Abdominal pain? Nausea? Indigestion? You may be infected with Helicobacter pylori! Stay away from 5 transmission routes

2024-08-20

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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a curled, gram-negative bacterium that lives primarily in the stomach lining. Although it may not cause obvious symptoms, it is associated with a variety ofDigestive systemDiseases are closely related, including gastritis, gastric ulcer andGastric cancerwait.

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and affects about half of the population.Infect, but most people do not show any symptoms. It helps itself resist stomach acid by secreting enzymes and other components, and is able to pass through the gastric mucus layer and attach to the stomach wall.

How Helicobacter pylori is transmitted

Helicobacter pylori can be spread through a variety of routes, including:

1. Oral-to-oral transmission: Helicobacter pylori can enter the digestive tract of a healthy person from the mouth of an infected person through kissing, sharing tableware or food.

2. Fecal-oral transmission: Helicobacter pylori parasitizes on the gastric mucosa. When the gastric mucosa falls off, the bacteria will be excreted with the feces. After contaminating water or food, healthy people can be infected by contact and ingestion.

3. Waterborne transmission: Drinking water contaminated with Helicobacter pylori is also an important route of infection.

4. Nosocomial infection: Incomplete disinfection of medical devices may also lead to cross infection.

5. Droplet transmission: In a closed environment, Helicobacter pylori may be transmitted through respiratory droplets.

What harm does Helicobacter pylori do to the body?

1. Gastritis

Acute gastritis: Helicobacter pylori infection can cause acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa, manifested as upper abdominal pain, nausea,VomitAnd other symptoms.

Chronic gastritis: Long-term infection can cause chronic gastritis, and persistent inflammation may affect the normal function of the stomach.

2. Gastric ulcer

Helicobacter pylori is one of the main causes of gastric and duodenal ulcers. After infection, gastric acid and digestive enzymes may damage the stomach wall, leading to ulcer formation.

Ulcer patients usually experience upper abdominal pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, etc., which may worsen especially after eating.

3. Gastric cancer

Studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori infection is closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer.Internal Environmentand promote cell mutation, increasing the risk of gastric cancer.

The World Health Organization has classified Helicobacter pylori as a Class I carcinogen, which is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma and other types ofcancerThere is a significant correlation.

4. Functional dyspepsia

Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to functional dyspepsia, a common gastrointestinal disease characterized by symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, fullness, and belching.

5. Gastrointestinal bleeding

Severe ulcers can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, manifested as black stools or vomiting of bright red/coffee-colored fluid, and require emergency medical treatment.

6. anemia

Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to chronic bleeding, especially in the setting of ulcers, which may cause iron deficiency anemia with symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and pale complexion.

7. Other systemic diseases

Some studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori infection may be associated with certain systemic diseases, such as:Cardiovascular disease: ChronicInflammatory responseMay increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Metabolic syndrome: associated with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

8. Impact on the immune system

Helicobacter pylori can interfere with the host's immune response, making it difficult to clear the infection and may lead to a decrease in the body's resistance to other pathogens.

Although Helicobacter pylori is prevalent in many people's lives, its potential harm should not be underestimated. Early detection and effective treatment of the infection are essential to prevent more serious health problems. If you suspect you may be infected with Helicobacter pylori or have related symptoms, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor for testing and treatment in time.

Symptoms of Helicobacter pylori

Many people infected may not have obvious symptoms, but when H. pylori causes problems, the following symptoms may occur:

1. Abdominal pain: usually located in the upper abdomen and may worsen after meals.

2. Nausea and vomiting: Patients may feel nauseous, especially after eating.

3. Flatulence: accompanied by discomfort such as burping and belching.

4. Indigestion: easy feeling of fullness, sometimes accompanied by loss of appetite.

If Helicobacter pylori exists in the body for a long time, it may cause more serious diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcer and even gastric cancer.

How is Helicobacter pylori diagnosed?

The main methods for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori include the following:

1. Breath test: The patient swallows a substance containing carbon and the infection is determined by detecting carbon isotopes in the exhaled breath.

2. Blood test: Detects antibodies in the blood to confirm infection.

3. Stool test: Diagnosis is made by detecting Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool samples.

4. Endoscopy: During endoscopy, samples of gastric mucosa are obtained for biopsy.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori

For patients who have been infected with Helicobacter pylori, timely and effective treatment is essential. Treatment methods mainly include:

1. Triple therapy: a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics, such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, amoxicillin capsules, and clarithromycin capsules.

2. Quadruple therapy: a bismuth agent plus a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibacterial drugs, such as lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, bismuth potassium citrate capsules, amoxicillin capsules, and levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules.

The treatment cycle is usually 10-14 days, and a follow-up examination is required after the treatment to confirm the eradication effect. It should be noted that eradication treatment must be completed and cannot be interrupted at will to avoid drug resistance.

How to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection

Here are some practical tips for preventing H. pylori infection:

1. Maintain good personal hygiene

Wash your hands frequently: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water before eating, after using the bathroom, and when handling raw foods.

Avoid sharing tableware: Try to avoid sharing tableware, drinking cups and food with others to reduce the risk of infection.

2. Pay attention to food safety

Choose clean and safe food: Eat fresh, well-cooked food and try to avoid raw or undercooked meat and seafood.

Drink safe water: Make sure you drink from a clean, treated water source. If you are unsure of the water quality, choose bottled water.

3. Improve your cooking habits

Reheat food thoroughly: Make sure food reaches the proper temperature during the cooking process to kill potential bacteria.

Pay attention to kitchen hygiene: keep the kitchen clean, clean cutting boards, knives and other tools regularly to avoid cross contamination.

4. Improve household hygiene

Clean your home environment regularly: Keep your home and living environment clean, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly.

Pay attention to toilet hygiene: keep the toilet clean and dry, and clean it regularly.

5. Understand the hygiene conditions

Pay attention to the health of those around you: If a family member or friend is diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection, special attention should be paid to strengthening hygiene and disinfection to prevent cross infection.

Regular physical examinations: For people with digestive system problems or family members with Helicobacter pylori infection, regular physical examinations can help detect potential problems early.

6. StrengthenImmunity

Eat a healthy diet: Eat more foods rich in vitamins and minerals, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, to enhance your body's immunity.

Exercise regularly: Moderate exercise can improve overall health and enhance immunity.

Get enough sleep: Maintain a good work and rest habit and ensure you get enough rest every day.

The above measures can effectively reduce the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection. Although this bacterium is common in the population, good personal hygiene habits, safe diet and healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the chance of infection. If you feel any abnormal symptoms, especially digestive discomfort, please consult a professional doctor in time for necessary testing and treatment.

Although Helicobacter pylori is prevalent in many people's lives, its potential harm should not be underestimated. Early detection and effective treatment of the infection are essential to prevent more serious health problems. If you suspect you may be infected with Helicobacter pylori or have related symptoms, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor for testing and treatment in time.