How the doctors in St. Thomas, VI can help when you have an H Pylori infection
Does your stomach hurt? Do you have abdominal or intestinal cramps? If so, you could have an infection of a type of bacteria which causes stomach and intestinal problems, including ulcers. The bacteria is called H pylori, and if left untreated, it can cause damage to your gastrointestinal system. The doctors at Paragon Surgical Center in St. Thomas, VI, provide a wide range of medical and surgical services, including treatment for an H pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, is a bacteria which can cause an infection in your stomach or gastrointestinal tract. You can acquire the H pylori bacteria through:
- Saliva
- Vomit
- Stool
- Contaminated food
- Contaminated water
Most people with H pylori won’t experience any signs or symptoms, but if you do have symptoms, you may experience:
- Aching or burning in your stomach
- Stomach pain that increases when you are hungry
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Burping and bloating
- Weight loss
When you have an H pylori infection, it can cause:
- Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining
- A duodenal or gastric ulcer, which can damage intestinal tissue
- Stomach or intestinal cancer
H pylori infection can be diagnosed in several ways. Your gastroenterologist may recommend a stool test, breath test, or an endoscopy.
If you have an H pylori infection, your gastroenterologist can treat it with two different antibiotics, taken at the same time. In this way, the bacteria can’t develop a resistance to one of the antibiotics.
Your gastroenterologist may also recommend taking medications to help heal your stomach or intestines. These medications may include:
- Proton pump inhibitors, to reduce stomach acid
- Bismuth subsalicylate, to coat and protect an ulcer from stomach acid
- Histamine blockers, to help limit stomach acid production
To learn more about how an H pylori infection can affect you, and how your doctor can help, call the doctors at Paragon Surgical Center in St. Thomas, VI. You can reach them in the office by calling (340) 715-7874, so call now.