Do I still need to undergo a gastroscopy if the Helicobacter pylori test is normal?
Disease description:
Recently, I have been experiencing frequent stomach bloating and pain. I had a test for Helicobacter pylori, and the result was normal. However, I still feel uneasy. Should I undergo a gastroscopy for further evaluation?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
In general, whether a gastroscopy is still needed when Helicobacter pylori is normal mainly depends on the patient's specific circumstances. If the patient does not have other stomach problems, a gastroscopy is usually not necessary. However, if the patient has existing gastric diseases, further gastroscopies may be required.
Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that primarily resides in the gastric mucosa of the human stomach and is associated with multiple gastric diseases, including chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. If the Helicobacter pylori test result is negative and there are no symptoms such as acid reflux, nausea, or stomach pain, a gastroscopy is typically not required.
If a patient has normal Helicobacter pylori status but experiences symptoms like acid reflux, nausea, or vomiting, these symptoms might be related to other gastric diseases, such as gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers. A gastroscopy can help promptly detect and diagnose these conditions, enabling targeted treatment measures.
In daily life, it is recommended to maintain good lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in moderate exercise, which can help reduce the occurrence of gastric diseases.
