Recently, many people have been exposed to information about Helicobacter pylori on their mobile phones. For example:

• The United States has classified Helicobacter pylori as a definite carcinogen.

• The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in children in our country is 40%.

• If one person is infected with Helicobacter pylori, the whole family is likely to be affected.

• A male celebrity has announced the process of his treatment for Helicobacter pylori.

As a result of being "screened" by this information, many people are asking: "I really want to get tested for Helicobacter pylori. It's too scary!"

Yes, regular testing for Helicobacter pylori is indeed a good thing, but if you haven't figured out the following issues, the test might as well not be done!

Next, Professor Hu Bing from the Department of Gastroenterology and Dr. Ma Qin from the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at West China Hospital of Sichuan University will explain the issues related to Helicobacter pylori in one go.

1. What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that exists in the stomach and the bulb of the duodenum. This bacterium has been around for about 100,000 years, coexisting with humans for more than 60,000 years. Coupled with its considerable infectivity, the global infection rate is not low, exceeding 50%.

Our country's infection situation is similar to the global average. According to the national Helicobacter pylori survey from 2001 to 2014, the average infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in our country is 59%, and the average infection rate in children is 40%. That is to say, at least five or six out of ten adults are infected, and in a class of forty children, there may be more than fifteen or sixteen who are infected.

2. Health Issues Caused by Helicobacter pylori

Once infected with Helicobacter pylori, it may cause a series of problems in the digestive tract:

• Chronic Gastritis: Helicobacter pylori is the main pathogen of chronic gastritis. Among patients with chronic gastritis, 80% to 95% are positive for Helicobacter pylori, much higher than in other populations.

• Peptic Ulcers: Helicobacter pylori is also the main pathogen of peptic ulcers, and eradicating Helicobacter pylori is one of the main means of treating peptic ulcers.

• Stomach Cancer: Helicobacter pylori infection is a high-risk factor for gastric cancer. According to current research, there is indeed an association between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer. However, being infected with Helicobacter pylori does not necessarily mean that one will develop gastric cancer in the future. The probability of developing gastric cancer is about 1%, as there are many causes of gastric cancer, such as environmental factors, genetic factors, living habits, poor dietary habits, overweight, alcoholism, smoking, etc.

3. Transmission of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can be transmitted, mainly through the oral-fecal or fecal-oral route. The lack of necessary sanitary facilities, safe drinking water, and basic sanitary conditions, as well as poor diet and overcrowded environments, can affect the overall infection rate.

Among them, "ingestion" is the most important mode and route of transmission. In most cases, people with Helicobacter pylori are infected by ingesting it.

4. Symptoms of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Most people infected with Helicobacter pylori do not have any particular symptoms, and a few may have symptoms such as bloating, dull pain, acid reflux, and bad breath.

5. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection

To detect whether you are infected with Helicobacter pylori, it is actually very simple, and can be done by blowing air.

Urea Breath Test (C13 and C14 Breath Test) is internationally recognized as the "gold standard" for Helicobacter pylori examination and is also one of the most commonly used methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori. This diagnostic method has an accuracy rate of over 98%, and it determines whether Helicobacter pylori is infected by measuring the level of carbon dioxide exhaled.

6. Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

After Helicobacter pylori is detected, whether it needs to be treated requires comprehensive consideration. Because the benefits and risks of Helicobacter pylori vary among different individuals, individualized assessment and treatment are needed for the infected.

7. Recommendations for Treatment

Currently, the radical treatment for Helicobacter pylori generally uses a "proton pump inhibitor + two kinds of antibiotics + bismuth agent" four-drug therapy, taking the medicine once in the morning and once in the evening, and a total of 14 days of medication is required.

8. Prevention of Helicobacter pylori Infection

• Use serving spoons and chopsticks or have separate meals during dining.

• Wash hands thoroughly before and after meals.

• Do not share food; adults should not chew food for children.

• For family members with Helicobacter pylori infection, use separate bowls and chopsticks.

• Prepare separate bowls and chopsticks for children.

• Pay attention to food hygiene and avoid raw food.

• Regularly disinfect and replace chopsticks at home.

• Maintain oral health and quit smoking.

• Avoid drinking raw water.

Although Helicobacter pylori has been around for tens of thousands of years and still exists strongly, it has a fatal weakness - it is not heat-resistant. High-temperature disinfection can kill it, so regularly high-temperature disinfecting home tableware is very necessary.