Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori play a role in the development of gastritis, lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. It is one type of diseases of the gastrointestinal system. Helicobacter pylori are a gram negative bacillus which produces mucosal damage. In a developing country more over 80% of the people are colonized with it by the age of 20 years. This disease gets transmitted through oral-oral or faceo-oral –route. These bacteria secrete following key factors such as urease, catalase, lipase, adhesions, activating factors etc. Clinical features of Helicobacter pylori are follows such as 1. Peptic ulcer is a chronic condition with a natural history of spontaneous relapses and remissions lasting for decades or even life, 2.Pain is localized that the patient will localize the site with one finger; 3.pain occurs on empty stomach and is relived by food or antacids, 4. In some patients with gastric ulcer, food may precipitate the pain, 5. Patients are more symptomatic during winter and spring; 6.It is more common in smokers than non-smokers. To prevent we need to take two type of treatment namely long term and short term. In case of general measures patient should avoid smoking, avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol should be avoided.