Opal,
Here is a report from the Mayo Clinic. Note the part about not having a "single" antibiotic to treat this disease. This is where AXCAN's new drug might become the gold standard for treatment. Having a single pill should help with compliance IMO.
Helicobacter Pylori and Ulcer Disease
Answers to Common Questions
What is Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach of humans. This bacteria has certain properties that allow it to infect the stomach but not other areas of the body. Helicobacter pylori promotes local inflammatory reaction. As a result, some people infected with the bacteria develop ulcers or other gastrointestinal problems.
How did I get infected?
Currently, it is not known how individuals become infected with Helicobacter pylori. These infections may persist for many years. In fact, diagnosing this infection in later life may merely represent a lifelong infection picked up in early adulthood or childhood years. There is no evidence that this bacterial infection is transmitted by sharing food or kissing.
How is Helicobacter pylori diagnosed?
There are various ways to diagnose this infection. Unlike for other bacterial infections, a culture is generally not taken. While in some cases, a blood test may be useful, the best test for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection is with endoscopy and a biopsy. Non-invasive methods of diagnosis include the breath test, which is routinely performed in our labatory. This test detects the presence of Helicobacter pylori by measuring some of the properties of an enzyme produced by the bacteria, which are collected in a patient's breath.
What are the symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection?
The vast majority of people with Helicobacter pylori infection have no gastrointestinal symptoms that can be related to the infection. However, people with Helicobacter pylori infection are about six times more likely to develop peptic ulcer disease than people not infected. When ulcers are present, pain or burning in the upper abdomen may develop. This often occurs an hour or so after meals and may be worse at night. These symptoms are often temporarily relieved by acid blockers.
How do I know if this bacteria is the cause of my indigestion or abdominal pain?
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is often necessary to determine if someone has Helicobacter pylori infection or peptic ulcer disease and whether there is an association between the infection and the gastrointestinal symptoms. Many people may have non-ulcer dyspepsia. This means that a person has symptoms that suggest ulcers, but when tests are done, no ulcers are found. The biopsy may show a mild inflammation of the stomach called "gastritis." At this time, there is little evidence of a relationship between non-ulcer dyspesia, or other symptoms like bloating and belching, and Helicobacter pylori infection.
Does Helicobacter pylori cause ulcers?
Because people with Helicobater pylori infection are much more likely to develop peptic ulcers, this infection seems to cause peptic ulcers in many people. About 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and 70 percent of gastric ulcers are related to Helicobacter pylori infection. On the other hand, most people with Helicobacter pylori infection do not get peptic ulcers. This means that Helicobacter pylori infection by itself is not enough to cause ulcers, and other factors are involved. These factors may include smoking, alcohol use, difference between people and different strains of the bacteria.
How do I get rid of my Helicobacter pylori?
Once you have been diagnosed, your physician may wish to treat you to get rid of the Helicobacter pylori infection. Unfortunately, Helicobacter pylori is difficult to eradicate. Right now, we don't have a single antibiotic that can do the job alone, so multiple antibiotics are necessary. Many treatment plans are being tried. Your physican will pick one that is hoped to be best for you.
Is there a risk of getting cancer?
There is some evidence of a slight increased risk of cancer of the stomach or an unusual stomach lymphoma associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Fortunately this development is exceedingly rare.
Physician in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology are studying new, innovative medical treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. If you would like more information regarding new treatments for ulcers please contact Cathy Hou or Dr. Ken DeVault at 904-953-2254. |
