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Condition

Helicobacter Pylori

Stomach infection causing chronic gastritis and ulcers — curable with antibiotics.

Overview

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterial infection of the stomach lining. It is exceptionally common in India and is the leading cause of peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and a major risk factor for stomach cancer. The good news: it is curable with a focused course of antibiotics, and treatment often resolves long-standing stomach symptoms.

Common symptoms

  • Burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen, worse on an empty stomach
  • Bloating, frequent belching, or fullness after small meals
  • Nausea or loss of appetite
  • Black tar-like stools (sign of an ulcer that's bleeding)
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Often no symptoms at all — many infections are silent

When to see a doctor

Anyone with persistent stomach pain, recurring ulcers, iron-deficiency anaemia of unclear cause, or a family history of stomach cancer should be tested for H. pylori. Standard care also includes testing every patient diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease.

How we help

We diagnose H. pylori with a stool antigen test, urea breath test, or biopsy during endoscopy — choosing the right test for your situation. Treatment is a 10–14 day combination of two antibiotics plus an acid-suppressing medication. We confirm cure with a follow-up test 4–6 weeks after treatment ends, because eradication can fail and matters to know.

This is general information, not a substitute for medical advice. For guidance specific to your case, please consult Dr. Ch. Saikumar or another qualified specialist.

Patient questions

Helicobacter Pylori — common questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about helicobacter pylori.

How is H. pylori spread?
Through close contact and contaminated food and water, often acquired in childhood. It's very common in India and most infections happen early in life without anyone noticing.
Can H. pylori cause cancer?
Yes — chronic H. pylori infection is the strongest known risk factor for stomach cancer. The good news: treating it significantly reduces that risk, which is why we test for it in patients with peptic ulcers or a family history of stomach cancer.
Can H. pylori be tested without endoscopy?
Yes. A stool antigen test or a urea breath test diagnoses H. pylori accurately without endoscopy. Endoscopy with biopsy is used when we also need to assess the stomach lining itself — for example, in patients with red-flag symptoms.
Will H. pylori come back after treatment?
Re-infection is uncommon in adults. Treatment fails in 10–20% of cases — often because of antibiotic resistance — so we always confirm cure with a follow-up test 4–6 weeks after treatment ends.
What's the treatment for H. pylori?
A 10–14 day course combining two antibiotics with an acid-suppressing medication. Completing the full course is essential — partial treatment drives antibiotic resistance and makes future treatment harder.
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