Helicobacter Pylori is a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. It is caught through oral ingestion such as food, water, and possibly even contact by kissing.
Some people are exposed to H. Pylori, but fight the bug off. However, others aren't so lucky. The bug neutralizes the stomach acids, so it is not killed, and starts to burrow into the soft stomach lining. When it reaches the inner lining it burrows under the lining to protect itself from acid and other natural killers present in the body, and multiplies and thrives. When the disease makes people symptomatic (and symptoms aren't always present until an emergency stage), the person enters the health care system for treatment.
Treatment isn't always effective (cures between 80-95% of the treated). The lack of effectiveness is probably due to two things:
- The bacteria has hidden itself within the lining of the stomach, which protects this germ from treatment interventions
- The treatment makes the patient nauseated and feel sick; therefore, compliance is a big problem
The longer one can 'stay the course' and be compliant with the treatment, the better the chances of killing the H. Pylori bug. Treatment usually takes two weeks.
Treatment consists of an antibiotic (to kill the bug), a proton pump inhibitor (to turn acid pumps in the stomach) and pepto bismol (to protect the stomach lining and decrease the associated nausea/vomitting which come with treatment.
Research is currently being done to develop treatments which increase patient compliance.
del.icio.us
Digg this
