What disease is Helicobacter pylori?

Under normal circumstances, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) itself is not a disease but rather a common gastric parasitic bacterium. Infection with this bacterium may trigger various gastric diseases and is a significant cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Detailed analysis is as follows:

H. pylori can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and mainly colonizes the surface of the gastric mucosa. After infection, it may disrupt the protective barrier of the gastric mucosa, triggering an inflammatory response. Most individuals experience no obvious discomfort during the initial infection phase, but long-term infection may damage the gastric mucosa, potentially progressing to chronic gastritis with symptoms such as mild upper abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and acid reflux. Some infected individuals may develop gastric or duodenal ulcers, presenting as periodic abdominal pain that is particularly noticeable during fasting or after meals. If left untreated over a long period, the damage to the gastric mucosa may worsen, increasing the risk of severe diseases such as gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and gastric cancer.

In daily life, prevention of H. pylori infection requires attention to food hygiene, avoiding shared tableware, drinking untreated water, and consuming undercooked food. Regular disinfection of tableware can also help reduce the probability of infection and lower the risk of gastric diseases caused by bacterial infection.