What Are the Treatments for Helicobacter Pylori Bacteria?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the spiral-shaped bacteria responsible for most duodenal and gastric ulcers. Discovered in 1982, H. pylori still seems to puzzle many researchers. How this bacterium infects us remains unknown. But, since the discovery of the bacterium, researchers have developed ways to treat the infection in most people. Prior to 1982, physicians were only able to treat the symptoms.
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Incidence
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Infections caused by H. pylori are common. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about two-thirds of the world is currently infected. H. pylori only proliferates in the stomach. And, most people acquire H. pylori during childhood either through contact with saliva, fecal matter or, in some cases, contaminated water supplies.
Symptoms
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Normally, H. pylori infections exhibit no symptoms. When symptoms are present, they include stomach burning, burping, bloating and vomiting. In some cases, a H. pylori infection may cause stomach ulcers. H. pylori weakens the protective coating around the stomach, allowing the stomach's acids to bore in and cause an ulcer.
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Treatment Plan
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The CDC recommends that patients with ulcers or a history of ulcers be treated for H. pylori. For those without that condition, treatment may be unnecessary. Treatment for H. pylori normal lasts between 10 to 14 days. The medication therapy involves antibiotics to kill bacteria and medicines to soothe symptoms.
Triple Therapy
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Triple therapy is the most effective treatment for Helicobacter pylori, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. The 14-day therapy is effective in more than 90 percent of patients. This treatment involves two antibiotics and a stomach aide, either an acid reducer like omeprazole (Prilosec), ranitidine (Zantac) and cimetidine (Tagamet) or a stomach-lining protector like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol). Examples of antibiotics used include amoxicillin, tetracycline and clarithromycin (Biaxin). While triple therapy is the most effective, it may also be the most irritating. It can involve as many as 20 pills a day. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, dizziness and headaches.
Alternatives to Triple Therapy
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An alternative to triple therapy is dual therapy. This includes only one antibiotic and an acid suppressor. In some, quadruple therapy is used. This medication therapy involves two antibiotics, an acid suppressor and stomach-lining protector.
Prevention
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Since no one yet knows where we obtain H. pylori, avoiding an infection may be difficult. The CDC recommends that we wash our hands, eat safe foods and drink water from safe supplies.
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