According to the Mayo Clinic, H. pylori infection infects the stomach or the first section of the small intestine and is the cause of most ulcers and many cases of gastritis, or stomach inflammation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that H. pylori infection is common in the United States and is most often found in persons from lower-income groups and older adults. As many as 50 percent of Americans over age 60 are infected with H. pylori.
H. pylori infection is present in approximately half of the world's population, and is especially common in developing countries, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Symptoms
Most patients with H. pylori infection have no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include an ache or burning pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, frequent burping, bloating or weight loss.
Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience severe or persistent abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, bloody or black tarry stools, bloody or black vomit, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Cause
H. pylori infection is caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. H. pylori is primarily passed from person to person through direct contact with saliva or stool. It may also be spread through untreated water.
Risk Factors
The Mayo Clinic reports that many patients contract H. pylori in childhood. Risk factors include living in crowded conditions or in developing countries, or living with someone who has H. pylori infection.
Complications
According to the Mayo Clinic, some patients with H. pylori infection develop serious complications, while others do not. Complications may include ulcers in the stomach or small intestine, inflammation of the stomach lining or stomach cancer.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing H. pylori infection can be done by testing the patient's blood, breath and stool. Endoscopy -- a test that examines the esophagus, stomach and duodenum through a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube -- is used if the patient has symptoms of an ulcer.
Treatment
According to the National Institutes of Health, treatment for H. pylori may include a combination of medications, including antibiotics such as amoxicillin, tetracycline or metronidazole, and proton-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole. Treatment with medications lasts for 10 to 14 days. Patients with H. pylori and an ulcer are most likely to benefit from treatment.
Follow-Up
According to the Mayo Clinic, follow-up testing for H. pylori several weeks after treatment can determine if treatment was successful. If the H. pylori bacterium is still present in the body, a different combination of antibiotics may be indicated.
