Helicobacter Pylori

What is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)?

H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach, which (along with acid secretion) damages stomach and duodenal tissue, causing inflammation and peptic ulcers. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), H. pylori causes most all of the ulcers. The NIDDK estimates that about 20 percent of people under 40 years old and half of those over 60 have it.

What causes an H. pylori infection?

Researchers do not yet know what causes certain people to develop H. pylori-related symptoms or ulcers. It is believed that H. pylori is transmitted orally from person to person through close contact (kissing) or through fecal-oral contact.

Treatment for H. pylori ulcers:

Specific treatment for H. pylori ulcers will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference