- Barrett's Esophagus
- Colon/Colorectal Cancer
- Crohn's Disease
- Digestive Health Additional Resources
- Digestive Health Downloadable Patient Education
- Digestive Health FAQs
- Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
- Esophagitis and Stricture
- Gastrointestinal and Gastroenterologist
- Heartburn, GER and GERD
- Helicobacter Pylori (Stomach Infection)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
- Stomach Problems and Swallowing Problems
- Ulcerative Colitis
Helicobacter Pylori (Stomach Infection)
Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacterium that causes inflammation of the stomach, chronic gastritis, and ulcers in the stomach or small intestine. People with H. pylori infections may be more likely to develop cancer in the stomach, including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The bacteria weakens the protective coating of the stomach and first part of the small intestine, allowing digestive juices to irritate the sensitive lining.
If someone is a carrier of H. pylori, they may have no symptoms. However, if a patient has an ulcer or gastritis, they may experience abdominal pain, indigestion, bloating, mild nausea, belching and regurgitation or feel very hungry one to three hours after eating.
H. pylori is treatable with antibiotics, proton pump inhibiters and histamine H2 blockers. Once the bacteria are completely gone from the body, the chance of its return is low.
LINKS
- Digestive Health FAQs
- Digestive Health Additional Resources
- National Cancer Institute: H. Pylori and Cancer Fact Sheet
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial Diseases