Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – Stomach (Antrum & Body)

What it is:
A spiral-shaped bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining, leading to inflammation and increased acid exposure. It is extremely common worldwide.

Symptoms:
Many patients are asymptomatic. When symptomatic:

• Epigastric pain or burning

• Nausea

• Early satiety

• Bloating

• More severe cases: GI bleeding or ulcer symptoms
  
  

Causes / Risk Factors:

• Transmission often through saliva, food, or contaminated water

• Crowded living conditions in childhood

• Family members who are infected

• Certain ethnic/geographic populations have higher prevalence
  
  

Associated Conditions:

• Gastritis

• Gastric or duodenal ulcers

• Gastric MALT lymphoma

• Increased risk of gastric cancer if untreated long-term
  
  

Treatment (Triple/Quad Therapy):

• Combination of:

  • 2 antibiotics (clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, or tetracycline)

  • PPI

  • ± Bismuth (in bismuth-based quadruple therapy)

• Eradication must be confirmed after treatment (breath test or stool antigen)