How contagious is Helicobacter pylori?
Disease description:
I was diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection. I heard this bacterium is contagious. How contagious is it?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, is a highly contagious bacterium.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can survive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. It is associated with various gastric diseases, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. Its transmission mainly occurs through oral-oral or fecal-oral routes, such as sharing eating utensils, kissing, consuming contaminated food or water, among others.
Once infected, the bacteria can persist in the stomach for a long time. Without treatment, the infection can last a lifetime. In individuals aged 20 to 40 years, the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori reaches as high as 45.4% to 63.6%, while among elderly people over 70 years old, the infection rate is even as high as 78.9%. These figures clearly demonstrate its strong contagiousness.
The key to preventing infection lies in maintaining good personal hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, using serving chopsticks, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and ensuring food and water safety. For those already infected, it is important to follow medical advice and undergo appropriate antibiotic treatment to reduce disease risks and prevent transmission to others.
