The helical germ
Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a spiral-shaped bacteria that affects more than 30% of the world’s population. In some countries, it affects more than 50% of the population and is therefore one of the most common bacterial infections known to humans. In 1979-1982, Australian doctors Dr. Roben Warren, a pathologist, and Dr. Barry Marshall, a gastrointestinal pathologist, discovered helical bacteria and suggested a link between them and stomach ulcers. Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) The first class is carcinogenic (ie, these bacteria are produced Cancer), which invades the lining of the mucosa of the stomach, causing up to 95% of the ulcers of the twelve, and 75% of stomach ulcers, and was linked to stomach cancer.
Despite the intensive investigation into the spread of bacteria, they are still unclear, and although there is some evidence to suggest that bacteria pass from person to person through the stool to the mouth, the mechanism of transmission is unclear, and the other possibility is through the mouth to Mouth, and these two methods are most likely at the moment. Most infections occur in childhood, especially in overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation, poor hygiene and contaminated water supplies. The incidence of the disease increases as poverty rises, reaching 80% of the population in the developing world.
These bacteria affect both sexes, and the presence of helical bacteria in the stomach leads to active inflammation and chronic in almost all patients, yet the majority of patients do not show any symptoms, in addition to less than 10% of patients may develop symptoms of this bacteria To gastrointestinal disease, or stomach cancer.
Symptoms of the helical germ
As previously reported, most people with the disease have no symptoms or even minor symptoms. The patient may experience mild pain or heartburn. The patient may come and go frequently, but the patient usually feels more pain when the stomach is empty , Such as the time between meals or in the middle of the night, and can last for a few minutes or hours, the patient may feel better after eating, drinking milk, or taking antacids, but there are other signs may indicate the presence of the germ in the stomach of the injured, It is as follows:
Often, these symptoms simply disappear; however, those patients who have more serious signs of the disease, such as: Bleeding stomach ulcer symptoms, or duodenal ulcers, or acute gastritis, include the following:
- Pain in the abdomen and / or discomfort that are usually more stable does not decrease and increase sporadically.
- Nausea and vomiting, with the possibility of bleeding, the color of vomiting is like the color of coffee.
- Dark stools resemble the color of tar.
- Continuous fatigue.
- Red blood cells decrease due to bleeding.
- Lack of appetite permanently.
- Diarrhea, heartburn, and bad breath.
- breathing difficulties.
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Paleness of skin color.
This bacterial infection may cause gastric cancer, and the disease has few symptoms at first, such as heartburn only, but over time, the patient may notice some of the following symptoms:
- Pain and swelling of the abdomen.
- Feeling full and full after eating only a small amount of food.
- Continuous vomiting.
- Weight Loss Without Reason.
Diagnosis of helical germ
The doctor will ask about the patient’s medical history and the family history of the disease to see which medicines the patient was taking, including any vitamins or supplements, or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. The doctor may perform many tests and other procedures to help confirm the diagnosis, As follows:
- Clinical tests : By physical examination, your doctor will check your stomach for signs of swelling, pain, or pain when touching, as well as hearing sounds inside the abdomen.
- Blood tests : A blood sample is taken, which will be used to look for antibodies against helical bacteria, in addition to checking blood strength and others to make sure there are no complications of the disease.
- Check stool : Take a stool sample to check the signs of the presence of these bacteria, in addition to check the presence of blood in it.
- Breathing tests : The patient is taking a drug containing urea, if the bacteria are present will produce an enzyme that breaks the mixture by releasing carbon dioxide, which is detected by a special device.
- Endoscopy : The doctor inserts the telescope in the mouth to the bottom of the stomach and the twelve, so that the camera attached to the telescope images directly on the screen of the doctor to display, and to search for any abnormal areas, and can be sampled from these areas if necessary.
Treatment of helical germ
This treatment is treated by a triangular treatment, a treatment in which two different types of antibiotics are used to kill bacteria and prevent antibiotic resistance, as well as one of the types of gastrointestinal reuptake inhibitors, whether the proton pump inhibitors or the hydrogens. Together to relieve the symptoms of heartburn, in addition to the elimination of the bacteria permanently, and in most infected people are eliminated through one cycle of this treatment, others may need more than one cycle, and to change the types of antibiotics For the used dynamic.