Imagine that inside your stomach is a hidden world that you cannot see, in which live microorganisms that may affect your health without you realizing it. This device, which we think is immune to its strong acid, is not completely isolated, but may be home to organisms capable of adapting and surviving.
Among these organisms, unique bacteria stand out that were able to defy the harsh environment of the stomach, and play an important role in many digestive system disorders.
The stomach germ is not just a passing microbe, but rather a hidden message that invites us to listen more deeply to a body that never stops talking. Yes, when we understand the body, we improve our health and our lives.
Helicobacter pylori may seem like a tiny organism, but it reveals that the smallest imbalance can upset a surprisingly well-designed balance. We do not conquer it through treatment alone, but rather we conquer it when we understand, listen, and live consciously.
Helicobacter pylori
For a long time, doctors believed that the stomach, with its strong acids, was an unsuitable environment for bacteria to live. But in 1982, Australian doctors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren were able to discover and isolate a type of bacteria that lives in the lining of the stomach, which brought about a radical shift in understanding its diseases.
This bacteria is known as stomach bacteria, and it is a microorganism that is not visible to the naked eye. It lives hidden inside the body, taking advantage of any imbalance in the internal environment. When natural protection mechanisms weaken, these bacteria find an opportunity to settle and reproduce.
Its spiral shape helps it penetrate into the mucous layer that protects the stomach wall, giving it a high ability to survive in a highly acidic environment.
Global medical estimates, including data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, indicate that about 50% of the world’s population may be infected with this bacteria, with prevalence rates varying depending on geographical location and health and environmental conditions.
Stomach under a microscope
If the stomach can digest meat, why can’t it digest itself?
A question that confused many people until recent research revealed an amazing protection system:
- Protective mucus layer The stomach wall is covered with a thick layer of alkaline mucus, protecting the tissue from erosion
- Cells regenerate amazingly quickly
- Precise acid secretion control system
- A blood network that nourishes and protects
Clinical signs and symptoms
Most infected people do not feel anything; The germ is often silent. But when symptoms appear, they vary between:
- Stomach pain or heartburn, especially after eating or at night.
- Frequent bloating and gas.
- Nausea and vomiting sometimes.
- Anorexia and unexplained weight loss.
- Blood in vomit or stool in advanced cases.
Biological examinations and diagnostics
Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori depends on a set of precise tools:
- Urea Breath Test
- Blood tests: To detect antibodies, but they may not distinguish between a current and past infection.
- Stool examination: to detect bacterial antigens.
- Gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy (Biopsy)
Each examination has a special accuracy, and the doctor often uses more than one method to ensure the correct diagnosis.
Helicobacter pylori and nutrition
Nutrition plays a dual role: it may relieve or worsen symptoms.
- Beneficial foods: Fresh vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, and fruits rich in antioxidants and fiber that help soothe the stomach.
- Harmful foods: Salty and processed foods, excess fats, sugars and smoked meats, which increase inflammation and accelerate stomach irritation.
- Eating habits: Eat small, regular meals.
Excessive food and the hidden guest
Recent studies have proven that overeating disturbs the gastric environment and weakens the protective mucosal barrier, which predisposes to gastritis and increases susceptibility to infection with stomach bacteria (Helicobacter pylori).
Treatment
Can the infection be cured? Yes, and treatment depends on:
- Several antibiotics
- A medicine that reduces stomach acidity is called a proton pump inhibitor
Treatment usually lasts 10 to 14 days, and this treatment leads to the elimination of bacteria in 80 to 90% of cases.
However, in 10 to 20% of cases, treatment may fail due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics or lack of complete adherence to treatment.
In this case, the doctor suggests a new treatment with different antibiotics.
What are the benefits of eliminating bacteria?
- The disappearance of gastritis
- Improvement of digestive symptoms
- Preventing stomach ulcers from occurring or returning
- Anemia: When anemia becomes a mystery, the doctor begins to think about a hidden guest that confuses the absorption of iron and vitamin B12 (B12).
- Reducing the risk of stomach cancer among those infected with bacteria: about 1% may develop stomach cancer.
Are there contraindications to treatment?
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
In these cases, treatment can be postponed because it is not an urgent case.
What are the side effects of treatment?
Treatment may cause some symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Change in taste (especially a metallic taste)
- Difficulty in digestion
- Headache and dizziness
These symptoms may be annoying, so it is preferable to start treatment at an appropriate period that allows it to be completed to the end.
Test to confirm the success of the treatment
Since treatment may fail in 10 to 20% of cases, testing should be performed after treatment to confirm that the bacteria have been eliminated.
The best test is a breath test and should be performed on an empty stomach for 12 hours, with acidity medications stopped for two weeks before the test and for at least four weeks from the end of antibiotic treatment.
If treatment fails, a new treatment is prescribed and the test is repeated after a month.
Is there a treatment other than antibiotics?
These bacteria cannot be eliminated except by using antibiotics, and they must be taken according to a strict regimen. If the patient does not adhere to the treatment, the bacteria may not be completely eliminated and may become resistant to antibiotics. In this case, another treatment with different antibiotics is necessary.
Is it possible to get infected again after treatment?
If recovery is confirmed (with a test after stopping antacids and antibiotics), the return of the bacteria is possible, but it is not common, and is often linked to environmental factors or infection from the immediate environment.
Can the infection be treated by changing the diet?
Bacteria cannot be eliminated just by changing the diet.
But modifying food may help reduce stomach irritation and relieve symptoms.
Can I transmit the infection to others?
The infection is transmitted from one person to another through saliva, food and water contaminated with the infected person’s waste, or sharing eating utensils. Although it is not as highly contagious as influenza and often requires direct contact or inadequate hygiene conditions, it is medically proven as a disease that is transmitted between individuals.
Therefore, prevention by washing hands and avoiding sharing personal tools is necessary to limit its spread.