Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can cause chronic inflammation of the stomach lining and stomach or duodenal ulcers. Long-term infection also increases the risk of stomach cancer. The infection often causes no symptoms, so a doctor assesses whether testing and treatment are needed.
At Baltic American Clinic, a gastroenterologist assesses your symptoms and the results of earlier tests and chooses the appropriate treatment for the infection. After treatment, it is important to check that the bacterium has been successfully eradicated.
Tests are chosen that help detect an active H. pylori infection.
Treatment is chosen after considering antibiotics taken previously, allergies and other important factors.
After treatment, a follow-up test confirms whether the infection has been eradicated.
If needed, stomach and duodenal diseases related to the infection are assessed.
When should you see a doctor about Helicobacter pylori infection?
It is worth consulting a gastroenterologist about a possible H. pylori infection if:
- you have recurrent pain or burning in the upper abdomen, especially if the symptoms persist or keep coming back;
- you have symptoms of dyspepsia, such as feeling full early, unpleasant fullness after eating or nausea;
- a stomach or duodenal ulcer has been diagnosed: H. pylori infection is one of the main causes of peptic ulcer disease;
- an H. pylori infection was found previously but was not treated;
- after earlier treatment, it was not checked whether the bacterium had been eradicated;
- the infection has come back or earlier treatment did not work;
- there have been cases of stomach cancer in your family: the doctor may recommend testing even if you have no obvious symptoms.
H. pylori infection can also be found in patients who have no digestive symptoms at all.
How is Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosed?
Several tests are used to diagnose the infection. The doctor chooses the most suitable method based on your symptoms, medical history and the results of earlier tests.
Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test
Helps detect an active infection with the bacterium. It can also be used to check the results of treatment.
Urea breath test
A non-invasive test that helps detect an active H. pylori infection and confirm its eradication after treatment.
Gastroscopy with biopsy
During a gastroscopy, the doctor examines the lining of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. If needed, samples of the lining are taken to detect H. pylori infection and other changes.
Gastroscopy is more often recommended when there are warning symptoms, a peptic ulcer is suspected or the stomach lining needs to be assessed in more detail.
Blood test for H. pylori antibodies
It can show past contact with the bacterium but cannot reliably distinguish an active infection from a past one. It is therefore not suitable for confirming that treatment has worked.
How is Helicobacter pylori treated?
Assessing the diagnosis and previous treatment
The gastroenterologist reviews your test results and assesses your symptoms, other conditions, the medicines you take, allergies and any antibiotic treatment you have had before.
Prescribing medication
H. pylori infection is treated with a combination of several medicines. Usually antibiotics are prescribed together with medicines that reduce stomach acid and, in some regimens, bismuth preparations.
Treatment usually lasts 14 days, but the doctor decides on the specific regimen and its duration.
Following the treatment regimen
It is important to take the medicines exactly as prescribed and not to stop treatment on your own. If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor.
Follow-up test after treatment
When treatment is finished, a test is carried out to check whether the infection has been successfully eradicated. The disappearance of symptoms alone is not enough to confirm that treatment has worked.
How to prepare for Helicobacter pylori tests
The preparation depends on the test ordered.
Before a urea breath test or an H. pylori stool antigen test, you usually need to:
- not take antibiotics or bismuth preparations for at least 4 weeks;
- not take proton pump inhibitors for at least 2 weeks. These are medicines that reduce stomach acid and can affect the test results.
Do not stop taking any medicines on your own. If you take them regularly, agree on how to prepare for the test with your doctor.
If a gastroscopy is planned, separate preparation instructions for that procedure apply.
Why is it important to check the treatment result?
H. pylori can survive even when the prescribed medicines are taken correctly. Because bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, the first course of treatment is not always successful.
The follow-up test is carried out no earlier than 4 weeks after the end of antibiotic treatment, following the preparation requirements.
If the bacterium persists, the doctor chooses a different treatment regimen, taking into account the antibiotics used before and, where needed, tests of the bacterium’s sensitivity.
When should you seek urgent help?
Seek medical help immediately if you have:
- vomiting of blood or of material that looks like coffee grounds;
- black, tarry stools;
- sudden, severe abdominal pain;
- marked weakness, fainting or other signs of possible bleeding.
These symptoms may indicate serious complications of the digestive tract and require urgent medical assessment. In a life-threatening emergency, call 112.
Frequently asked questions
Can Helicobacter pylori go away on its own?
In adults this infection usually persists for a long time if it is not treated. If an active infection is found, eradication treatment prescribed by a doctor is recommended.
Can Helicobacter pylori be cured without antibiotics?
Reliable eradication of the bacterium usually requires antibiotic treatment. Diet, food supplements or probiotics alone are not an equivalent alternative.
Is Helicobacter pylori contagious?
Yes. The bacterium can spread between people, including through saliva or by the faecal–oral route. Hand hygiene and safe food and water are important.
Should family members be tested if one of them has Helicobacter pylori?
Testing may be recommended for adult family members living in the same household. The decision is made individually, taking into account risk factors and health. Separate recommendations apply to testing children.
Does Helicobacter pylori infection cause stomach cancer?
H. pylori is an important risk factor for stomach cancer, but most infected people do not develop stomach cancer. Eradicating the bacterium helps reduce the risk associated with the infection.
Can Helicobacter pylori come back after successful treatment?
Reinfection is possible but is not common in adults. If symptoms return, the doctor assesses whether further tests are needed.
Is a repeat gastroscopy needed after Helicobacter pylori treatment?
Not always. Eradication of the infection can usually be checked with non-invasive tests. A repeat gastroscopy may be needed because of a diagnosed stomach ulcer, changes in the lining or other medical reasons.
Is a special diet needed to treat Helicobacter pylori infection?
Diet alone does not eradicate the bacterium. However, during treatment it may help to avoid foods and drinks that make your own digestive symptoms worse.
Helicobacter pylori treatment price
The prices of a gastroenterologist consultation, Helicobacter pylori diagnostics and additional tests are set by the Baltic American Clinic price list in force at the time.
Prescription medicines prescribed for treatment are paid for separately.
The need for tests and treatment and the expected costs are discussed during the consultation.