1 The essence of the problem

A feature of this bacterium is the ability to function and multiply in an environment with high acidity, that is, under conditions that are unfavorable for the development of other microorganisms. Such survival and the ability to reproduce in an acidic environment allows bacteria to parasitize in the human stomach for many years.

These bacteria multiply and contribute to the destruction of cells of the tissue of the digestive organs, which leads to the development of gastritis and ulcerative processes. As a rule, a person for a long time does not suspect about the ongoing processes in the body. Symptoms of pathology can make themselves felt against the background of the development of acute respiratory diseases, stress and the decline of strength. The patient complains of pain in the abdomen, frequent eructations, nausea and burning in the abdomen.

Helicobacter pylori functions and multiplies only in the stomach. Infection occurs by contact with the carrier of infection. Microorganisms can be transmitted by kissing or using the same dishes, as well as hygiene items. Thus, all members of the same family can be affected by the infection.

2 Symptoms of pathology

Specific symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection, as a rule, are absent. Until today, specialists have not been able to find out the reason for the absence of specific signs of the development of pathology. There is an opinion that this is a consequence of the innate resistance of some people to the effect of this bacterium.

Often the signs of the disease are as follows:

• belching;
• pain in the stomach and heartburn;
• significant weight loss in a short period of time;
• frequent urge to vomit;
• increased gas production;
• an unpleasant odor in the mouth and smack if they are not related to the pathology of the teeth or gums;
• increased gastrointestinal disorders;
• baldness;
• poor digestibility of meat products.

If there is a manifestation of such symptoms for a long time, then in this case you can talk about neglected condition of the pathology or aboutdevelopment of more dangerous to the patient ailments.

3 Diagnostic methods

Anamnesis collection and physical examination are the initial measures to detect this pathology. When collecting an anamnesis, it is necessary to find out information about cases of diagnosing stomach cancer or any other pathologies associated with it among relatives of the patient.

During the physical examination, the gastroenterologist by means of palpation of the abdomen tries to reveal signs of inflammation. The patient's history and physical examination help the treating physician to determine what kind of diagnostic studies( invasive or non-invasive) are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

For the accurate diagnosis, a blood test, a feces and a breath test are prescribed to the patient. In this case, the most informative is the study of blood for the presence of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori. At the same time:

1. Laboratory studies of defecation products can determine the presence of bacterial antigen in the patient's feces. The presence of the latter indicates the development of the infectious process.
2. When passing a breath test, the patient drinks a solution containing radioactive carbon atoms together with urea. If the bacteria are present in the gastrointestinal tract, they contribute to the destruction of urea and the release of carbon, which also enters through the blood into the lungs. The accuracy of the test varies from 96% to 98%.

Patients with advanced age who exhibit serious signs of pathology, or if there are cases of illness among relatives, recommend diagnostic tests of an invasive nature.

These tests include endoscopy. This method of visualization is most preferable for the diagnosis of pathology. He helps the treating doctor to examine the patient's gastrointestinal tract. During this procedure, the patient can be taken samples of tissues, that is, a biopsy was performed. X-rays can also help in the examination of the patient's gastrointestinal condition.

4 Principles of therapy

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection is a rather problematic exercise, because the bacterium does not respond to the overwhelming majority of antibiotics. Thus, if once a certain antibiotic drug was used in the treatment of a patient, then in the next course of treatment, its use would be already useless. In addition, under the influence of antibiotics, the beneficial microflora of the patient's intestines suffers, which can cause the development of allergic reactions or dysbacteriosis. The use of antibiotics in therapy is recommended for the detection of ulcers in the duodenum, in the treatment of gastritis and with previous resection of the stomach in connection with a diagnosed oncological disease. In other cases, Helicobacter pylori infection is treated with drugs that help regulate the level of acidity in the patient's stomach.

In the development of Helicobacter pylori infection, doctors recommend compliance with a diet that implies a split meal in order to avoid stomach stretching. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the food taken by the patient should have an average temperature, not to be excessively hot or cold.

Such a dietary diet implies the exclusion of spicy, smoked, pickled or salted, fried foods. It is necessary to exclude carbonated and alcoholic beverages. If you consume, you must thoroughly chew your food. It is recommended to consume more drinking water.

When treating Helicobacter infection, it is very important to complete a complete course and comply with all the prescriptions of the treating doctor. If the patient's condition improves, then this does not mean that the treatment can be stopped. This only indicates its effectiveness. If the doctor's prescriptions are not fully implemented, then the next time the treatment will be more difficult, since the bacteria will become resistant to the medicines already used.