User:Mr. Ibrahem/Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori infection is an infection, typically of the stomach, by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Usually there are no symptoms; but it may result in gastritis (stomach inflammation) in 25% or stomach ulcers in 10%. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, and heart burn. Infection is also associated with atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer, and mucosal associated-lymphoid-type (MALT) lymphoma.

It is believed to spread mostly by the fecal-oral and possibly oral-oral route. Risk factors include living in an area were the disease is common and poverty. Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative, microaerophilic, curved rod-shaped bacterium. Diagnosis is by urea breath test, fecal antigen assay, rapid urease test, or tissue biopsy. Serology may indicate a current or past infection.

Cases without symptoms do not require specific treatment. Otherwise the combination of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, metronidazole, and clarithromycin may be used. Other options include a PPI, bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline. Treatment is generally for 14 days. An H. pylori vaccine is in development as of 2015.

It is estimated that 60% of the world's population were infected in 2015, with this being more common in developing countries. Onset is often in childhood. About 5% of children under 10 in the United States are affected. In recent decades, rates have declined in many countries. The bacterium was first identified in 1982 by Australian doctors Barry Marshall and Robin Warren.