What is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)?
H. pylori is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach lining and cause various gastrointestinal problems, including gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer. It is estimated that around half of the world's population is infected with H. pylori, and the bacteria are transmitted through contaminated food, water, and oral contact.
Is the PYtest suitable for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women?
Please seek advice from your Medical Professional.
Is the PYtest suitable for children?
Please seek advice from your Medical Professional.
Is the PYtest Halal?
Yes, the capsule containing the Carbon-14 Urea is made from Halal gelatine.
Is the PYtest vegan?
No, the capsule containing the Carbon-14 Urea is made from Bovine gelatine.
How is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection diagnosed?
There are many tests and procedures to determine whether you have Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori). These include stool sample, breath test and endoscopy exam. Repeat testing is recommended to ensure the eradication of H.pylori.
How is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection treated?
Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection usually involves a combination of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications taken for a period of one or two weeks.
Can Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori )infection lead to stomach cancer?
While most people with H. pylori infection do not develop stomach cancer, the bacteria are a known risk factor for the disease, particularly in those with long-term infection and untreated or undertreated inflammation in the stomach.
What are the signs and symptoms of Helicobacter pylori?
Many people experience no symptoms, but some signs of an infection are:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
What happens if H. pylori is not treated?
Complications can arise from untreated H. pylori, such as stomach cancer, chronic dyspepsia, duodenal ulcer disease and inflammation of the stomach lining ( asymptomatic chronic gastritis).
Helicobacter pylori treatments*
Antibiotic treatment and eradication of the gastric pathogen H.pylori is complex, involving multiple antibiotics that are combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) to increase the pH of the stomach for the duration of the course of the antibiotics to ensure high eradication rates.
Treatment failure is generally attributed to the lack of compliance with the drug regimen or infection by antibiotic-resistant strains.
This study reports the antibiotic resistance of H.pylori in referred patients, reviews the necessity of pre-antibiotic sensitivity testing and ascertains the effectiveness of rifabutin (RFB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), bismuth subcitrate (BIS), furazolidone (FZD) and tetracycline (TET), in patients who have failed the standard triple therapy with PPI plus amoxicillin (AMX), clarithromycin (CLR) and/or metronidazole (MTZ).
* Excert from: Tay CY, Windsor HM, Thirriot F, Lu W, Conway C, Perkins TT, Marshall BJ. Helicobacter pylori eradication in Western Australia using novel quadruple therapy combinations. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Dec;36(11-12):1076-83. doi: 10.1111/apt.12089. Epub 2012 Oct 16. PMID: 23072648.
Helicobacter pylori symptoms
Many people experience no symptoms, but some signs of an infection are:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss