Many of us complain about the reoccurring episodes of heartburn or gastrointestinal reflux disorder (GERD) and other symptoms like bitter test in mouth, burning sensation in the chest associated with it. Do you ever realize why is it happening frequently? Even if you are taking medicines and precaution to avoid it. This condition of heartburn if occurring on daily basis than it can be because of a bacterium that normally leaves in the digestive system. This bacterium is known as “Helicobacter pylori” or “H.pylori” which is a helical shaped bacterium. According to a research, almost 50% of the world population suffers from H.pylori infection. The infection cause by Helicobacter pylori infection stay with you all your life if you left it untreated.
This bacterium normally lives in the digestive system and usually it is harmless. But sometimes it cause inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach walls. It embeds itself in the walls of the intestine and forms a covering around it to protect itself from stomach acid. Along with this it also damages certain cells in the stomach walls that are mainly concerned with the stomach acid production. Because of this activity, the stomach acid production decreases and it lead to different complications. Apart from this it has been seen that, Helicobacter pylori can also move to gall bladder and liver too, spreading the infection.
There are several ways by means of which you can catch the Helicobacter pylori infection. Some of them are listed below.
a) The most common way of getting the infection is the close contact with the infected person. If you are sharing the same utensils and other things with the infected person you are likely to get the infection.
b) The second factor is the poor hygiene.
c) Helicobacter pylori infection can also spread through sexual contact.
d) You can also get the infection from your pet like cat or dog.
The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection involves following tests.
a) Stool test – It is the best method to diagnosis the infection. If the test result is positive than it may be concluded that you are suffering from the infection.
b) Blood test – It is also the most common way of diagnosis of the Helicobacter pylori infection.
c) Endoscopy and biopsy – In this process, doctor will insert a tube with a camera inside the stomach to get a clear look of the infection and the other complications.
d) Breath test – It is considered as the least accurate test. In this test doctor ask you to blow inside a bag and then he or she will examine the gases to see I they react to Helicobacter pylori.
How Helicobacter pylori causes infection
This bacterium normally lives in the digestive system and usually it is harmless. But sometimes it cause inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach walls. It embeds itself in the walls of the intestine and forms a covering around it to protect itself from stomach acid. Along with this it also damages certain cells in the stomach walls that are mainly concerned with the stomach acid production. Because of this activity, the stomach acid production decreases and it lead to different complications. Apart from this it has been seen that, Helicobacter pylori can also move to gall bladder and liver too, spreading the infection.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Normally there are literally no symptoms has been observed in an individual infected with Helicobacter pylori. Because of this, we never come to know whether we are affected with Helicobacter pylori infection or not. The most common symptoms include heartburn, acid reflux disease or ulcerative GERD, indigestion, upper abdominal pain, headache or in the worst case migraine headache, acne, hormonal imbalance and depression. Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to stomach ulcer if not treated on time. It has been observed that this bacterium is the main cause behind the duodenal and stomach ulcer.There are several ways by means of which you can catch the Helicobacter pylori infection. Some of them are listed below.
a) The most common way of getting the infection is the close contact with the infected person. If you are sharing the same utensils and other things with the infected person you are likely to get the infection.
b) The second factor is the poor hygiene.
c) Helicobacter pylori infection can also spread through sexual contact.
d) You can also get the infection from your pet like cat or dog.
The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection involves following tests.
a) Stool test – It is the best method to diagnosis the infection. If the test result is positive than it may be concluded that you are suffering from the infection.
b) Blood test – It is also the most common way of diagnosis of the Helicobacter pylori infection.
c) Endoscopy and biopsy – In this process, doctor will insert a tube with a camera inside the stomach to get a clear look of the infection and the other complications.
d) Breath test – It is considered as the least accurate test. In this test doctor ask you to blow inside a bag and then he or she will examine the gases to see I they react to Helicobacter pylori.
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