DIAGNOSING & TREATING
HELICOBACTER PYLORI
IN A COMFORTABLE AND ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT
Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter Pylori is a type of bacteria that infects your stomach. It is very common globally and is a frequent cause of stomach ulcers. In some cases, it can also present a risk of stomach cancer.
Symptoms of Helicobacter Pylori infection
Many people with Helicobacter Pylori infection don’t have symptoms. Symptoms and signs, if present, arise from Helicobacter Pylori causing gastritis or peptic ulcer disease, and can include:
- Dull or burning pain in your stomach
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting (bloody vomit)
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Belching
- Loss of appetite
- Dark stools (from blood in your stool)
How is Helicobacter Pylori diagnosed?
Helicobacter Pylori can be diagnosed in several means, such as blood testing, stool specimens, breath testing, or on biopsies from the stomach during a gastroscopy. Each test has its limitations, including the potential for false negative results in certain circumstances.
Diagnosis and treatment
Once diagnosed, Helicobacter Pylori is usually treated with a combination of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications. Follow-up testing is then performed around 2-4 weeks later to determine if treatment was successful. In some cases, patients have a resistant form of Helicobacter Pylori which requires novel antibiotics to eradicate.
The team of doctors at Glengarry Gastroenterology are highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter Pylori , including patients with resistant disease. Please contact us to arrange an appointment with our friendly staff.