Helicobacter pylori Infection
What is Helicobacter pylori infection?
Helicobacter pylori infection is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of your stomach lining and ulcers (sores) in your stomach or intestine. It's often shortened to H. pylori.
H. pylori infection can lead to gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. If H. pylori infection isn't treated, it raises your chance of getting stomach cancer.
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The infection is caused by a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
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It's a very common infection—by age 60, about half of people have been infected
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H. pylori spreads from person to person through kissing, close contact, and not washing hands after passing stool
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Many people don’t have symptoms, but you may have pain in the upper belly area
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Doctors treat H. pylori infection with antibiotics
What are the symptoms of H. pylori infection?
How can doctors tell if I have H. pylori infection?
Doctors suspect H. pylori infection from your symptoms. To know for sure, they'll do tests such as:
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Breath or stool tests
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Upper endoscopy (using a flexible viewing tube to look in your stomach)
