Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation in the inner lining of the stomach and is the leading cause of peptic ulcer disease worldwide. More than 50% of Americans are infected with H. pylori and in developing countries, this percentage is as high as 90%. However, only one in six people with peptic ulcers show symptoms. The only way to know for sure is through a test by a medical professional.
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms
Step 1. Watch for a dull ache in the stomach that won't go away
H. pylori infection can cause ulcers in the stomach and lower intestine. Because H. pylori rarely causes symptoms on its own, peptic ulcers are a warning sign of a possible infection. If you have a peptic ulcer, you may show some of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the stomach that won't go away. This pain usually appears two or three hours after eating.
- The pain will come and go over several weeks and sometimes occurs in the middle of the night when the stomach is empty.
- The pain may go away temporarily when you take medications such as antacids and other over-the-counter pain relievers.
Step 2. Watch out for prolonged nausea
You may feel nauseous if you have an H. pylori infection. Pay attention to the nausea you feel.
- You may vomit when you are nauseous. When caused by H. pylori infection, there is usually blood in the vomit. You may also see a substance that resembles coffee grounds.
- Nausea can be caused by many factors, such as motion sickness, flu, eating or drinking that doesn't fit in the stomach, or early pregnancy. If the nausea doesn't go away and there's no obvious cause, it may have something to do with H. pylori infection.
Step 3. Consider your appetite
Loss of appetite is also a symptom of H. pylori infection. Maybe you are not interested in eating. This feeling may be accompanied by nausea and indigestion associated with the infection.
If you lose your appetite and are accompanied by unexplained weight loss, see your doctor. Loss of appetite is a common symptom of many diseases, including cancer. Visit a doctor to determine if there is a serious illness
Step 4. Watch for unusual changes in the body
You may notice strange changes when you have an H. pylori infection. Watch for sudden changes and see a doctor for a checkup.
- The stomach is usually slightly bloated during H. pylori infection.
- Poop may be black
- Occasionally, H. pylori infection causes prolonged belching.
Step 5. Evaluate your risk factors
Because H. pylori infection rarely causes symptoms and is often mistaken for another disease, think about your risk factors. If you have many risk factors for H. pylori infection, symptoms such as stomach cramps should be watched out for.
- If you live in crowded conditions, such as a small house with lots of people, your risk of infection increases.
- If you don't have access to regular clean water, the risk of infection is also greater
- If you live in a developing country or have recently visited one of the developing countries, your risk of infection is higher.
- If you live with someone who is infected with H. pylori, then you have a high chance of getting the same infection.
Step 6. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen rapidly
Usually, H. pylori infection is not a medical emergency, but some symptoms can be serious. If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
- Difficult to swallow
- Severe stomach ache
- Bloody poop
- Bloody vomit
Part 2 of 3: Undergoing Medical Tests
Step 1. Talk to your doctor about medical tests
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and talk about why you think you have H. pylori infection, see if your doctor agrees that you should get tested. People who should be tested for H. pylori are those who have certain stomach tumors, active peptic ulcer disease, or a history of peptic ulcer disease. In addition, people with dyspepsia aged less than 55 years also need to undergo tests.
Step 2. Perform a breath test
While not the most accurate for detecting H. pylori, this test is not as invasive as other options. During the test, you are asked to swallow a substance that contains a waste product called urea. Urea breaks down protein in the stomach. If there is an infection, the urea will be converted into carbon dioxide which can be detected in the breath.
- You should prepare for a breath test for about two weeks. Your doctor will advise you to stop taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking to treat H. Pylori.
- Urea must be swallowed in the doctor's office. After 10 minutes, you will be asked to exhale and the doctor will test your breath for carbon dioxide.
Step 3. Consider a dirt test
Your doctor may need to do a stool test to track down H. Pylori. This is usually done after treatment to confirm that H. Pylori has been eradicated and you are no longer infected.
- The doctor may suggest a stool test after the breath test is positive and treatment is performed.
- Listen carefully to your doctor's instructions on how to collect and store feces. The method is different in each hospital.
- In addition, there is a rapid fecal antigen test to detect H. Pylori. Talk to your doctor about this option. Please note, this test is also not available in all hospitals.
Step 4. Do a blood test
Blood tests can also be used to check for H. Pylori. However, this test may not be as accurate as the breath test. A blood test can only check if your body contains H. Pylori antibodies. This test cannot determine if an infection is present.
- Your doctor may suggest a blood test for a variety of reasons. For example, to confirm infection. If so, trust that your doctor knows what's best for you. This is a simple procedure that doesn't take long.
- Other methods that are not commonly used are the PCR chain reaction, assays for metal levels in saliva and urine, and the blood urea C13 test.
Step 5. Listen to whether the doctor wants a biopsy
A biopsy is the most accurate way to check for H. Pylori. In a biopsy procedure, a small tissue sample will be taken from your abdomen. To collect the sample, you will have to undergo a rather invasive procedure in the hospital, namely an endoscopy.
- During the endoscopy, a small tube will be inserted into the mouth and lowered into the stomach. In addition to taking a tissue sample, the doctor will also check for inflammation.
- While this is the most accurate way to diagnose H. Pylori, doctors will not recommend it unless an endoscopy is needed for other reasons. Your doctor may need to perform an endoscopy if you have a peptic ulcer or are at risk for stomach cancer.
Part 3 of 3: Coping With Infection
Step 1. Take medication to suppress acid
After getting a positive infection diagnosis, the doctor will recommend some drugs to suppress stomach acid. Triple antibiotic therapy is the first treatment for H. Pylori. Drugs that are generally used as the first treatment are proton pump inhibitors and two antibiotics to fight bacteria. Treatment lasts 14 days. Your doctor will recommend the best medication based on your medical history and condition.
- Proton pump inhibitors are a class of drugs that stop the production of acid in the stomach. Your doctor will prescribe this medication if excess stomach acid is causing you pain.
- Histamine blockers (H-2) can also block acid production by stopping the production of a substance called histamine. Histamine can trigger acid production in the stomach.
- Bismuth subsalicylate, commercially named Pepto-Bismol, can coat stomach ulcers and reduce pain.
- Follow the doctor's instructions carefully regarding the recommended drugs. If you are on certain medications, be sure to ask if they will interact with medications to treat H. Pylori.
Step 2. Continue the test during treatment
Your doctor will need to determine if your treatment is working. Your doctor may want to do more tests about four weeks after treatment. If treatment doesn't work, you may have to undergo a second treatment and be given antibiotics. Usually, the second treatment includes an upper endoscopy, a stool antigen test, or a breath test, to confirm whether the infection has been cleared.
Step 3. Ask your doctor if regular checkups are right for you
You should have regular H. Pylori screening if you have a high risk of stomach cancer. H. pylori infection can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and he will decide if you need to have regular H. Pylori checks.
