09/06/2026
H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori)
A bacterial infection that lives in the stomach lining, affecting roughly half the world's population, most people never know they have it.
Causes:
Spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact (saliva). More common in crowded living conditions and areas with poor sanitation.
Treatments:
The standard approach is "triple therapy" a 10–14 day course of two antibiotics (usually clarithromycin + amoxicillin) plus a proton pump inhibitor (like omeprazole) to reduce stomach acid. Bismuth based "quadruple therapy" is used when resistance is a concern.
After treatment, a follow up breath or stool test confirms the bacteria is gone. Left untreated, it can lead to ulcers or, rarely, stomach cancer.