How to Determine if You Have Helicobacter pylori
Dec 21, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
In general, to determine whether one has Helicobacter pylori, methods such as urea breath test, serum antibody testing, stool antigen test, gastric mucosal biopsy, and symptom observation can be used. If Helicobacter pylori infection is confirmed, medications such as lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, and clarithromycin capsules can be used under a doctor's guidance for treatment.
Generally, to determine whether one has Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), methods such as urea breath test, serum antibody test, stool antigen test, gastric mucosal biopsy, and symptom observation can be used. If abnormalities are detected, timely medical consultation is recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Urea Breath Test: This is a non-invasive diagnostic method that detects whether exhaled breath contains carbon-labeled carbon dioxide to determine if there is an H. pylori infection. After fasting, the patient ingests isotope-labeled urea, and then exhaled breath samples are collected for testing. A positive result indicates an H. pylori infection.
2. Serum Antibody Test: This method detects H. pylori antibodies by collecting a blood sample. A positive antibody result typically indicates a past infection with H. pylori but cannot confirm whether the infection is currently active. Therefore, this method may not be sufficiently accurate in determining current infection status.
3. Stool Antigen Test: This test involves collecting a stool sample to detect the presence of H. pylori antigens. If H. pylori antigens are detected in the stool, it may indicate an active infection. However, because the distribution of H. pylori in stool is uneven, this method may have some degree of inaccuracy.
4. Gastric Mucosal Biopsy: This is an invasive diagnostic method in which gastric mucosal tissue samples are collected via gastroscopy for testing. This method allows direct visualization of the presence of H. pylori in the gastric mucosa and therefore offers high accuracy. However, as this method requires gastroscopy, it may cause some discomfort to the patient.
5. Symptom Observation: Although symptoms of H. pylori infection vary from person to person, common symptoms include abdominal pain, indigestion, acid reflux, nausea, reduced appetite, and unexplained anemia. If these symptoms occur and persist for a prolonged period, timely medical consultation is recommended to determine whether H. pylori infection is present. However, not all individuals infected with H. pylori will exhibit symptoms; therefore, symptom observation alone cannot serve as the sole basis for diagnosis.
If H. pylori infection is confirmed, medications such as lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, and clarithromycin capsules can be used for treatment under a doctor's guidance.
