H. pylori Infection
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in the lining of the stomach. It is usually picked up in childhood, through contaminated food and water or close contact, and it is common in Nigeria. Most people who carry it never have symptoms, but in some it causes gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), peptic ulcers and, over many years, a higher risk of stomach cancer. Many Nigerians are told they have 'ulcer' and take antacids for years without ever being tested. A blood antibody test only shows past exposure and stays positive after cure, so the stool antigen or breath test is the better way to check for current infection. A correct course of treatment clears it in most people.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- No symptoms at all in most people who carry it
- Burning or gnawing pain in the upper middle abdomen
- Indigestion, bloating and belching
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Black, tarry stools or vomiting blood if an ulcer bleeds
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if you have indigestion or upper abdominal pain that lasts more than a few weeks or keeps returning, so you can be tested properly. You need a gastroscopy rather than just a test and treatment if you are over about forty-five with new symptoms, or have weight loss, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, anaemia or a family history of stomach cancer. Go to an emergency department immediately if you vomit blood or coffee-ground material, pass black stools, or have sudden severe abdominal pain.
Treatment options
- A stool antigen test or urea breath test to confirm current infection
- Eradication therapy: a two-week course of two antibiotics and an acid-reducing medicine
- Taking every dose of the full course, since stopping early is a common cause of failure
- A repeat stool or breath test after treatment to confirm the infection has gone
- A different antibiotic combination if the first course does not clear it
- Gastroscopy with biopsy for warning signs, older age at onset, or infection that will not clear
What it costs on Mezo
Published cash prices for the operations used to treat this condition. Your own quote follows an examination.
Common Questions
How do you get H. pylori?
Usually in childhood, through contaminated food or water, or close contact with someone who carries it. It is not caused by pepper, stress or skipping meals.
Can H. pylori be cured completely?
Yes, in most people. A correct two-week course of antibiotics with an acid-reducing medicine clears it, and a test afterwards confirms the result. Reinfection in adults is uncommon.
My blood test says positive. Do I have it now?
Not necessarily. The blood antibody test stays positive for a long time after the infection has gone, so it cannot show whether you are still infected. A stool antigen or breath test is the right test, before and after treatment.
Should my whole family be tested?
Not routinely. Family members with symptoms of indigestion or ulcer, or with a close relative who had stomach cancer, should talk to a doctor about testing.
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