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Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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In this Article

• What is Helicobacter pylori?
• What does H. pylori cause in humans?
• What are the symptoms of H. pylori infections?
• Is H. pylori contagious?
• How is H. pylori infection diagnosed?
• Why treat H. pylori?
• What is the treatment for H. pylori?
• Who should receive treatment for H. pylori?
• Can H. pylori infections be prevented?
• What is the prognosis for H. pylori infections?
• Patient Comments: Helicobacter Pylori - Treatments
• Patient Comments: Helicobacter Pylori - Diagnosis
• Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
• Helicobacter Pylori Index

Many infections are mild and produce few, if any, symptoms. The prognosis of these infections is excellent. Patients with more serious symptoms that are treated appropriately usually have a good prognosis although up to 20% may have reoccurrence of the infection. Those with ulcers who have effective eradication of their infection heal their ulcers well (with usually minor scarring in the tissue).

Untreated and severe infections have a more guarded prognosis because extensive damage can occur with bleeding, scarring, anemia, and hypotension (low blood pressure) occurring. Some patients with these symptoms will die if not treated quickly.

REFERENCES:

Cancer.gov. Helicobacter pylori and Cancer.

Chey, W, Wong, B and the Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Gastroenterology Guideline on the Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection, Amer. J. Gastro, 102:1808-1825, 2007

FDA.gov. FDA approves first Helicobacter pylori breath test for children.