Diagnosis of
H. pylori

How do I know if I have H. pylori?

Many people experience no symptoms with H. pylori however some may experience:

• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Vomiting Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Is Helicobacter pylori serious?

H. pylori won’t cause most people problems but in some cases it can cause consistent irritation, pain and the presence of stomach ulcers. These prolonged symptoms can lead to cancer.

If you think you may have H. pylori please consult your medical practitioner.

How is H. pylori infection diagnosed?

There are several ways to determine the presence of H.pylori:

• Blood tests can be used to determine the presence of antibodies to the bacteria. These tests tell if person has ever had the infection but do not prove that the infection is still present. A biopsy of the stomach can be used to determine the presence of H. pylori.
• A biopsy is obtained during an examination of the stomach with a flexible scope. The biopsy is examined by a pathologist under a microscope to look for the presence of H. pylori, or more easily by a Rapid Urease Test (RUT) where a sample of the stomach is mixed with a slide with a colour change indicating that H. pylori is active in the stomach.
• The urea breath test whereby a sample of the patients breath is captured and analysed for the presence of H. pylori

About H. pylori

About the treatment of H. pylori