The bacterium Helicobacter pylori became known not so long ago. Not all patients know that they are the carrier of the parasite. You can live with a bacterium, but its presence in the body affects the quality of life. How can Helicobacter pylori be infected and how dangerous it is, it is necessary for every person to know in order to protect themselves and loved ones.
About bacteria
In 1979, the hypothesis appeared that gastrointestinal diseases appear as a result of the vital activity of a certain bacterium living inside a person. The name consists of two parts: "Heliko" means that the bacterium is spiral-shaped, while "pylori" indicates the stomach section in which it lives.
Many bacteria do not survive in the acidic environment of the stomach, but this does not apply to this bacterium. She feels great and neutralizes acid. Because of this, other parasites can develop in the stomach.
Externally, the bacterium resembles a spiral with flagella. It moves along the walls of the stomach or is fixed on the inner shell. To understand how you can become infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria in everyday life, you need to know the transmission methods.
Transmission ways
There can be several ways to transmit the disease. But it is important to understand that the bacterium does not live in the air. You can not get infected in the room in which the patient is, if you do not interact with him. Can Helicobacter pylori get infected in crowded places? It is possible, but for this the following conditions must be "fulfilled":
- Non-observance of hygiene rules. The lack of the habit of washing hands after using the toilet, after the street, before eating, increases the risk of infection several times.
- Decreased body defenses. Strong immunity will prevent infection or prevent bacteria from multiplying actively.
The main method of infection is fecal-oral. But is it possible to catch Helicobacter pylori through a kiss? Such a probability also exists.
There are several ways to transmit bacteria in the household way:
- with a kiss, contact of the mucous membranes of a healthy and infected person;
- when using untreated water for food, the bacterium is able to live in water for up to several weeks;
- through poorly crafted tools in medical institutions;
- in case of non-compliance with clean hands;
- through a common dish, spoon, pacifier, etc.
There is an assumption that about 70% of the population is infected in the world. But far from all, bacteria are examined for carriage. Doctors know how Helicobacter pylori can be infected. More people are infected in third world countries than in developed countries.
Symptoms of the disease
Helicobacter pylori may not manifest itself for decades. But there are signs, upon the appearance of which the doctor should send the patient for testing:
- disgusting breath;
- stomach pains;
- periodic nausea;
- frequent heartburn;
- stool changes;
- skin rashes;
- taste in the mouth, worse after eating.
The skin is an indicator of the state of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, when rashes appear, dry skin should be examined to exclude infection with the bacterium. Most often, the following manifestations are present:
- cracked skin on the fingers and toes;
- atopic dermatitis;
- inflammation of the skin of the face.
After the treatment, skin problems go away on their own. If topical skin treatment fails, a Helicobacter examination should be performed. To exclude further infection, you need to know how Helicobacter pylori can be infected.
How to detect a disease
Correct and timely diagnosis will avoid many problems. To identify the disease, it is necessary to use the methods used in modern medicine:
- analysis of feces will allow you to fairly accurately determine the presence of bacteria in the body;
- the breath test can be used to diagnose children, pregnant women and all other patients;
- a blood test from a vein to determine antibodies to Helicobacter pylori does not give grounds for prescribing treatment, but requires additional further examination of the patient;
- endoscopic examination of the stomach is the most accurate method for detecting a disease, but has a number of contraindications.
Each diagnostic method has advantages and disadvantages. Endoscopy is a rather unpleasant procedure, but it has high accuracy and quick results. Not performed in pregnant women and children.
A blood test for antibodies can give elevated titers after treatment. The fact is that antibodies in the blood persist for a long time. Therefore, with a positive result, additional examination is required.
Complications
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is dangerous in that it can provoke acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, timely therapy is required to eliminate the complication and infection of surrounding people.
For a sick person, the risk of developing diseases increases:
- gastritis;
- ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
- development of oncology;
- diseases caused by the destruction of the gastric mucosa.
To exclude pathology, it is necessary to carry out treatment under the supervision of a competent gastroenterologist.
Disease treatment
The patient knows how to get Helicobacter pylori, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Full recovery does not occur quickly, patience and adherence to the doctor's recommendations is required. Prescribing treatment alone is unacceptable, because therapy may not bring results, and during this time the disease progresses.
Treatment is not always required after the detection of bacteria. If during the examination revealed a small amount of bacteria in the stomach and this does not affect the quality of life, then treatment can be postponed. With revealed complications and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment is prescribed.
In treatment, two antibiotics are prescribed and a drug to reduce the acidity of the stomach. In the presence of inflammation, drugs are used to reduce the effect of hydrochloric acid on damaged areas. Proton pump inhibitors heal erosion and reduce stomach acidity. All drugs do not affect the ability of the antibiotic to fight bacteria.
During treatment, the patient is required to follow a diet. Based on the principles of healthy eating:
- eat often and little by little;
- refuse fried, smoked, flour;
- drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily;
- Do not smoke;
- Do not drink alcoholic and carbonated drinks;
- refuse junk food and snacks on the go.
Also, proton pump blockers are used in the treatment. The most popular include:
- Omeprazole;
- Pantoprazole;
- "Rabeprazole".
These drugs help restore a damaged stomach and enhance the effect of antibiotics. When a result appears, the use of blockers can enhance the effect of antimicrobials and reduce the dose of the antibiotic.
Is an antibiotic needed
To prevent the disease, others should know how Helicobacter pylori can be infected and how to treat it. One of the components of treatment is the use of antibiotics. And if doubts arise whether an antibiotic is required in the treatment of a bacterial disease, then they must be discarded.
In the treatment of Helicobacter pylori, 2 antibiotics are used simultaneously. The fact is that the bacterium is quite resistant to drugs. Treatment should be carried out according to the instructions in accordance with the prescribed scheme. If you are intolerant of an antibiotic or the appearance of side effects, you should consult a doctor.
Is it possible to get infected again
Can Helicobacter pylori be re-infected? According to the results of studies, the frequency of re-infection during the first year after treatment is 20%. There is a possibility that the statistics do not take into account treatment that did not lead to the complete destruction of the bacteria.
There is also an assumption that bacteria remain in other parts of the digestive tract, from where they later migrate, therefore, Helicobacter pylori can be infected again.
Immunity to Helicobacter pylori is not produced. Therefore, re-infection will lead to the appearance of symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, if they occurred earlier.
Helicobacter pylori infection prevention
It is impossible to protect completely from the disease, because infection can occur anywhere. But there are a number of measures that reduce the risk of infection with bacteria:
- hygiene allows you to not get infected with many infectious diseases;
- strengthening immunity increases the likelihood that the body will independently cope with the bacterium at the stage of colonization in the body;
- regular diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract and conducting examinations will allow you to recognize the disease in the early stages, which will allow for easier treatment.