by Laila Salaam

Created on: October 31, 2008

How can your doctor find out if you have H. pylori infection?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria live and produce in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine. These bacteria are known to thrive in about fifty percent of the world's populations with higher rates of infection found in third world and underdeveloped countries. Most people, however, show no signs or symptoms that the infection is present in their systems.

While most H. pylori infections never produce symptoms in the majority of infected persons, it can cause certain stomach and small intestine problems that might become severe if not treated. Some of the symptoms that may point to an H. pylori infection include achy or burning stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, bloating and belching, reduced appetite and weight loss, and black or bloody stools.

Most of the time H. pylori bacteria are passed from person to person through saliva. This can occur through mouth to mouth contact as well as by sharing eating and drinking utensils, as well as from contact with feces and bad sanitary conditions and personal hygiene habits.

If you visit your physician for problematic stomach and intestinal symptoms, your doctor may order a variety of tests. Some screenings are very easy to complete and require no invasive procedures these include a breath test to check for a type of carbon expelled in your breath that is found in a chemical called urea. Another non-invasive test is a stool sample test that detects the antigens produced by H. pylori bacterium. Additionally, a recently developed blood test can also identify the H. pylori antibody in the blood, but the can show that a person has the bacteria in their system, while no infection is present.

If these tests don't produce the expected result and there are still problems, or if you are at risk for stomach cancer, there are other test that will provide your doctor with the information he or she needs to identify the cause and treat the symptoms associated with H. pylori. Your doctor will decide which of these types of tests and screenings will be more appropriate for your age and symptoms. The invasive procedures include by are not limited to Endoscopy, Stomach X-ray, and the procedures referred to as barium upper GI series.

It is important to understand that, while a great number of people carry the bacteria in their systems, and H. pylori can be easily passed from one person to another, having the bacteria in your system does not necessarily mean that you will get sick. Just because your friend or loved one has been diagnose with an H. pylori infection does not mean that you will get sick from having contact with the person who has been diagnosed.

However, if you begin to develop similar symptoms, it would be a good idea to check with your doctor if you have had contact that could have resulted in an infection.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/h -pylori/DS00958

http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdgs30.h tm

http://familydoctor.org

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