Is H. Pylori Contagious? Symptoms & Tests

H. pylori is considered to be contagious and passed from person to person by saliva, fecal contamination, and poor hygiene practices. Source by iStock

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) are spiral-shaped bacteria. H. pylori bacteria are unique because they produce the enzyme urease that allows the bacteria to live in the harsh environment of the stomach. The urease enzyme it produces reacts with urea to form ammonia that neutralizes enough of the stomach's acid to allow the organisms to survive in the tissues.

H. pylori is considered to be contagious and passed from person to person by:

• Saliva
• Fecal contamination (in food or water)
• Poor hygiene practices

Most investigators think that individuals become infected as children because the parents and the person's siblings are likely to transmit the organisms to them while they are young. The organisms are considered to be a major cause of both stomach and small intestine (duodenal) ulcers.

About two-thirds of the world's population is infected with H. pylori. A significant percentage of this population likely became infected as children and most show no signs of infection for many years. Consequently, individuals may realize that they are infected with H. pylori when they develop symptoms of stomach inflammation (gastritis) and/or ulcers, usually in their adult years.

The most common symptoms of H. pylori are:

• Discomfort in the area of the stomach that is described as burning or gnawing or aches and pains
  • The pain typically occurs when the stomach is empty and/or during the early morning hours
  • The pain may be reduced by antacids or food in the stomach
• Burping
• Unintentional weight loss
• More severe symptoms can include:
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Blood in the stools and/or in vomit.

About 30%-35% of infected people do not have symptoms

The H. pylori bacteria are likely spread from one individual to another by:

• Saliva
• Contaminated foods or fluids
• Poor hygiene, for example, the lack of hand washing

Researchers speculate that the majority of individuals that are colonized and/or infected with H. pylori are likely infected through the mouth (fecal-oral route) during their childhood.

People that develop any symptoms or signs of recurrent gastritis and/or ulcer disease should contact their doctor to determine if they are infected with H. pylori or have other medical problems. Those with known duodenal or stomach ulcers can be tested for an H. pylori infection. H. pylori infections can be detected by several methods including:

• Blood test
• Breath test
• Biopsy urease test
• Stomach biopsy
• Culture of biopsy specimens for H. pylori

Individuals that have blood in either their stools or vomit should be seen by a doctor right away (emergently).

There is a wide range of home remedies that claim to treat this problem, for example:

• Beer
• Garlic
• Wine
• Mastic tree sap or gum

The effectiveness of these home remedies is questionable at best. Patients are advised to discuss these treatments with their doctors before they begin them.

H. pylori can be treated with antibiotic therapy (a triple therapy regimen) that, for best results, lasts 14 days.

However, to be sure the infection is gone, the person needs to have the diagnostic test(s) repeated to show that H. pylori are no longer present in the individual's gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, at least one study has shown that even after eradication of H. pylori, individuals are re-infected at a rate of about 20% after 3 years.