Why does helicobacter pylori cause ulcers

There are three types:. In diagnosing H. However, blood tests are not used to detect H. Drugs Used to Treat H. Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria.

Two types of acid-suppressing drugs might be used: H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors. H2 blockers work by blocking histamine, which stimulates acid secretion. They help reduce ulcer pain after a few weeks. Proton pump inhibitors suppress acid production by halting the mechanism that pumps the acid into the stomach. H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors have been prescribed alone for years as treatments for ulcers.

But used alone, these drugs do not eradicate H. Bismuth subsalicylate, a component of Pepto-Bismol, is used to protect the stomach lining from acid. It also kills H.

Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics, acid suppressors, and stomach protectors. Antibiotic regimens recommended for patients may differ across regions of the world because different areas have begun to show resistance to particular antibiotics. The use of only one medication to treat H.

At this time, the most proven effective treatment is a 2-week course of treatment called triple therapy. It involves taking two antibiotics to kill the bacteria and either an acid suppressor or stomach-lining shield.

Two-week triple therapy reduces ulcer symptoms, kills the bacteria, and prevents ulcer recurrence in more than 90 percent of patients. Unfortunately, patients may find triple therapy complicated because it involves taking as many as 20 pills a day.

Also, the antibiotics used in triple therapy may cause mild side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea , dark stools, metallic taste in the mouth, dizziness, headache, and yeast infections in women. Most side effects can be treated with medication withdrawal. Nevertheless, recent studies show that 2 weeks of triple therapy is ideal.

Early results of studies in other countries suggest that 1 week of triple therapy may be as effective as the 2-week therapy, with fewer side effects. Learn more…. Stomach ulcers are painful sores in the lining of the stomach. They are a type of peptic ulcer disease.

Stomach ulcers occur when the thick layer of…. Helicobacter pylori H. You can get it though…. Intestinal metaplasia is a condition in which the cells that create the lining of your stomach are changed or replaced. The replacement cells are…. Feel a bump on the roof of your mouth? Learn about stress-induced ulcers, including symptoms and treatments. An epidemic is when an infectious disease spreads to many people within a community or area.

Learn about the biggest outbreaks in United States…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What causes H. What are the symptoms of H. Who is at risk for H. How are H. What are the complications of H. What can I expect in the long term? Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. Read this next. Stomach Ulcer Diet. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.

Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. Symptoms of an infection Testing and treatment Antibiotic resistance Helicobacter pylori, commonly called H. Share on Pinterest H. How do you get H. Symptoms of an infection. Share on Pinterest Symptoms of an H. Testing and treatment. Share on Pinterest An endoscopy may be used to help diagnose stomach issues caused by H.

Antibiotic resistance. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What to know about esophageal ulcers. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M.

What's to know about peptic ulcers? Medically reviewed by Nancy Choi, MD. These can break down the stomach's defence against the acid it produces to digest food, allowing the stomach lining to become damaged and an ulcer to form. But in some people, the bacteria can irritate the stomach lining and make it more vulnerable to damage from the stomach acid. It's not clear exactly why some people are more vulnerable to the effects of H.

NSAIDs are medicines widely used to treat pain, a high temperature fever and inflammation swelling.