Helicobacter pylori, known as H. pylori, is a strain of bacteria that commonly infects the digestive tract, usually the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine called the duodenum. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that H. pylori causes more than half of the world’s peptic ulcers—sores that occur in the lining of the stomach, esophagus or duodenum. Although not all H. pylori infections result in a peptic ulcer, the infections that cause peptic ulcers cause a variety of symptoms.
Abdominal Pain
Infection with the H. pylori bacteria weakens the defense mechanisms in the lining of the stomach and duodenum. This allows the stomach acid to damage the lining resulting in an open sore, or ulcer. Although not all patients will experience pain, approximately half experience pain they describe as a gnawing, burning or aching sensation, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Pain caused by peptic ulcers ranges from mild to moderately severe.
The pain caused by H. pylori induced peptic ulcers can follow a pattern. For many people, the pain occurs first thing in the morning and subsides upon eating, only to return several hours later. Others experience pain that awakens them during the night. Because ulcers often heal without treatment, patients may feel abdominal pain for several weeks followed by periods of no pain. The ulcers usually recur triggering the onset of abdominal pain.
Weight Loss
The presence of abdominal pain can cause a loss of appetite leading to weight loss. In addition, the ulcer can cause inflammation or the development of scar tissue of the surrounding tissues, which can cause the opening between the stomach and small intestine to narrow. As this opening narrows, the partially digested contents fail to move from the stomach into the small intestine. This can cause feelings of nausea and trigger vomiting. If the food particles cannot make it to the small intestine, nutrients cannot be absorbed, which leads to unintentional weight loss.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
H. pylori infections that remain untreated can lead to serious complications. As the ulcer invades deeper into the wall of the stomach or small intestine, bleeding can occur. Patients with a bleeding ulcer may notice blood in the stool. Vomiting stomach contents that appear similar to coffee grounds also indicates the presence of bleeding. Small amounts of bleeding may not require additional medication attention, but if it continues the bleeding can lead to additional complications such as anemia—a low level of red blood cells.
