1 in 2 people is infected! The doctor asks you to check for Helicobacter pylori because he really wants to save you

In recent years, the term "Helicobacter pylori" has frequently appeared in the public eye. When going to the hospital for screening, many doctors will recommend a Helicobacter pylori breath test, and many units will even list Helicobacter pylori breath testing as a routine physical examination item.

The breath test generally refers to the urea breath test . When the stomach is infected with Helicobacter pylori, the gas exhaled by the patient will contain carbon-labeled carbon dioxide , thereby diagnosing whether the patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori.

In addition, the breath test is a non-invasive examination method. Compared with electronic gastroscopy, it has the advantages of being non-invasive, not requiring oral intubation, and being more comfortable for patients, so it is more easily accepted.

Therefore, doctors generally recommend a breath test for screening.

Is this screening really necessary? How deadly is Helicobacter pylori? Let me first tell you the answer: When your doctor asks you to check for Helicobacter pylori, he really wants to save you!

Helicobacter pylori infected stomach

What will it become?

In June 2023, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Institute for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and other units released the white paper "Helicobacter pylori Infection Prevention and Control in China", pointing out that the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in China is nearly 50%, which means that about 700 million people have Helicobacter pylori in their stomachs, and 70% of gastric cancers are related to Helicobacter pylori . Currently, the World Health Organization has included Helicobacter pylori in the list of Class I carcinogens .

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a microaerophilic Gram-negative bacillus that parasitizes the human digestive tract. It is spiral or S-shaped, with a flagellum at one end. It can survive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach and pass through the mucus layer to reach the epithelial surface and firmly attach to it, avoiding being emptied by the stomach. It prefers the pylorus and antrum of the stomach, hence the name.

Helicobacter pylori. Copyright image from the library. Reproduction and use may lead to copyright disputes.

It is mainly transmitted from person to person through the oral-oral or fecal-oral route , and is the only bacterium known to humans that can survive in the stomach.

After infection with Helicobacter pylori, the gastric mucosa will almost always become inflamed . It can survive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach and, through its strong motility, adhesins, and the urease it produces, it is firmly attached to the surface of the gastric mucosa, especially in the gastric antrum, where it multiplies, leading to the occurrence of chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers and other diseases, and is even closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated B-cell lymphoma .

In the early stages of infection, patients may not have obvious symptoms, but this does not mean that the condition is not serious or does not require treatment. However, even without symptoms, inflammation of the gastric mucosa may still exist, and some patients may present a chronic progressive process, gradually developing gastric mucosal atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and even cancer.

Stomach infected with Helicobacter pylori, Image source: Author

Moreover, there is currently no good indicator or method that can accurately predict which patients will develop serious diseases such as gastric ulcers and gastric cancer , and which patients may carry Helicobacter pylori for a long time without obvious symptoms.

Therefore, according to the "Expert Consensus on Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Gastric Cancer Prevention and Control in China", doctors recommend that all patients who are found to be positive for Helicobacter pylori be treated to prevent potential risks .

Which groups of people need to

Helicobacter pylori testing

So which groups of people are the key screening targets for Helicobacter pylori? There are mainly the following categories:

1. People with a history of peptic ulcer: Regardless of whether it is in the active stage or not, and whether there is a history of complications, Helicobacter pylori testing should be considered;

2. Patients with chronic gastritis: especially those in the active stage with gastric mucosal atrophy and erosion, and those with chronic gastritis with symptoms of indigestion;

3. People with a history of gastric cancer or lymphoma: Since Helicobacter pylori is closely related to the occurrence of malignant tumors such as gastric cancer, these patients should undergo regular Helicobacter pylori testing;

4. People who take specific drugs for a long time: such as patients who take omeprazole or aspirin orally for a long time. These drugs may affect the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of Helicobacter pylori infection;

5. People with a history of other chronic diseases such as blood diseases: such as unexplained iron deficiency anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, etc. These diseases may be related to Helicobacter pylori infection;

6. People with poor hygiene habits: not washing hands before meals and after defecation, often grabbing food directly with hands, or not maintaining good oral hygiene, not brushing teeth actively, not disinfecting tableware regularly, etc., may also spread and be infected with Helicobacter pylori.

7. People with these symptoms should be especially alert to Helicobacter pylori infection:

① Bad breath. When infected with Helicobacter pylori, it may stimulate gastric acid secretion, which in turn affects the motility of the stomach and esophagus, leading to gastroesophageal reflux. This reflux may not only damage the esophageal mucosa, but also produce odorous substances in the mouth, causing bad breath.

② Abdominal distension and pain. When the gastric mucosa is damaged and gastric function is disturbed, the patient may feel abdominal discomfort, including abdominal distension and pain, burning pain and colic in the right upper abdomen, and even nausea and vomiting.

③In addition, non-specific indigestion symptoms, such as acid reflux, belching, loss of appetite, easy feeling of fullness, etc.

How to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection?

Finally, let’s talk about how to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection and what we need to pay attention to in our daily lives.

1. Implementing a separate dining system and using serving chopsticks and serving spoons is an effective way to prevent the spread of Helicobacter pylori. This eating habit can reduce the chance of bacteria spreading through saliva and ensure personal dietary hygiene.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

2. Maintaining good personal hygiene habits is also very important. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or hand sanitizer before meals and after going to the toilet to remove bacteria on your hands and reduce the risk of infection.

3. Oral hygiene should not be neglected. Regularly changing toothbrushes and keeping the oral cavity clean can help reduce the growth of Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity.

4. Cleaning and disinfecting tableware is also an important part of preventing Helicobacter pylori infection. Regular high-temperature disinfection of tableware can effectively kill bacteria and ensure the hygiene of tableware.

5. Avoiding drinking raw water and eating raw food is also an important measure to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection, because it may survive in these unprocessed food and water and enter the human body through diet.

6. Children are a susceptible group, so preparing special tableware for children , ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of the tableware, and eliminating oral feeding and reducing kissing are the keys to prevention.

7. Adhere to the concept of health, strengthen exercise, improve the body's immunity, and pay attention to physical examinations .

Planning and production

Author: Li Tian, ​​Chief Physician, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association

Planning丨Yinuo

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin