No. Alternative medicines are an alternative for patients who are unable to be treated by conventional medicine (in my opinion). Thus, the treatment for H. pylori is known, so alternative medicines are unnecessary. The large multinational drug companies, who spend millions of dollars per year studying these compounds, have investigated most of the alternative medications for therapeutic effect. If any alternative medications are found to be effective for H.

Helicobacter pylori (h. pylori) is a certain bacterium that is thought to cause the majority of all peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers are stomach and duodenal ulcers. In the U.S. over 20 percent of the population under the age of 40 and over 50 percent of the population above the age of 60 are infected with h. pylori. However, that does not necessarily mean that the infected person will also develop a peptic ulcer.

A course of two antibiotics and an acid blocking medicine taken for 10 - 14 days can eradicate 90% of H pylori.

Once a person is infected with h. pylori, the h. pylori can attack the mucus coating that usually protects the stomach and the duodenum. Since the coating is weakened, acidic stomach juices can easily irritate the very sensitive stomach lining beneath. Eventually this will cause a sore, the stomach/ duodenal ulcer. Ulcers can be very painful. In severe cases people wake up in the mornings with blood in their mouth. Unfortunately, h.

H. pylori peptic ulcers are usually treated with antibiotics and drugs that reduce the acid in the stomach and protect the sensitive stomach lining. Which antibiotic to choose depends on the region in which the patient lives, as certain areas in the world seemingly show resistance against some antibiotics. There are currently two types of acid reducing/ suppressing medications in the market, H2 (Histamine) blockers and proton pump inhibitors. H2 blockers block histamine in the body.

Since research has not found out yet how h. pylori bacteria actually spread it is almost impossible to prevent an infection. However, as mentioned above, it depends on the person if a stomach ulcer actually develops. It is often stated that stomach ulcers are stress related. It is certainly true that the cause of stomach ulcers is either h. pylori or NSAIDs, but the fact that an infected person develops h. pylori might be related to a low immune system, which can be in fact stress related.

The other cause of ulcer is usually aspirin or arthritis-type medication. Some people secrete very high levels of acid. Occasionally viruses can cause shallow ulcers. There are rare conditions, cause unknown, in which ulcers can develop in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.

No. You cannot get H. pylori from a blood transfusion, but a blood serology antibody test could read positive if you have received a transfusion of whole blood or plasma from a patient with H. pylori. Anonymous. Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Helicobacter pylori Infections in the Developing World. Lima, Peru, 28-31 January 1996. Clinical.Infectious.Diseases. 1997; 25: 9712043. Banatvala N, Clements L, Abdi Y, Graham JY, Hardie JM, Feldman RA.

No. However, many doctors believe that Crohn's Disease is caused by an infection. This is very controversial at present and clinical trials are being undertaken around the world to see if antibiotic treatment affects Crohn's disease.

present there is no convincing evidence that H. pylori is linked to heart disease. Several investigators have noted that atherosclerosis is more severe or more common in patients with chronic infections e.g. chlamydia and possibly Helicobacter, but this has not been confirmed.

H. pylori is the type species of the genus Helicobacter. Helicobacters belong to the family Helicobacteraceae which are all members of the subdivision Proteobacteria.

H. pylori does run in families. About half of the infections are hereditary and the other half are acquired from the environment during childhood.

Not really. Homeopathy, naturopathy etc, are generally a waste of time once the true course of a disease is understood (like H. pylori). Most effects on the foetus occur during the first 12 weeks when the various organs are developing. If you have a severe case of reflux requiring Losec then your obstetrician may be able to keep you off medications just for the first 12 weeks or so and after that reinstate them.

To minimize the stomach irritation aspirin can cause, some brands are "buffered" so the pills don't dissolve until they reach the small intestine. However, "buffered" formulas may have irritating effects on_ Patients with hemochromatosis accumulate excessive amounts of iron in the liver and this eventually can lead to... Boggy Creek Gang Camp: apermanent, year-round center where young people with life-threatening illnesses can come at no charge to them or their families.

Please read the information on stomach cancer. Stomach cancer is hereditary but some of this inheritance may be because H. pylori is spread around in the family from parents to children.

About 0.5 to 2.5% of persons with lifelong, untreated H. pylori will develop stomach cancer. This percentage is higher in some countries (Japan, Columbia) and lower in others (USA, Australia). Ethnic factors and diet also play a role. H. pylori positive persons without symptoms or family history of stomach cancer need not undergo endoscopy. Stomach and duodenal ulcers are likely to be caused by H. pylori but it does not cause oesophageal ulcers.

H. pylori can be cultured in a "candle jar" on blood agar or "chocolate agar". These are common media, which can be obtained from any microbiology laboratory. Remember that H. pylori likes to have lots of moisture and also likes to have reduced amounts of oxygen with extra carbon dioxide. Typically this can be obtained in a "candle jar". A candle jar is made by placing wet paper towels in the bottom of an airtight container.

Papers and references on H. pylori may be obtained at any number of on-line medical journals that can be viewed at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hinfo.html.

The sequencing of the H. pylori genome may lead to the development of new vaccines and might allow us to think up new ways of killing the organism by inhibiting some of its essential parts.

The National Institutes of Health and many other government and private organisations will fund research into H. pylori and gastric cancer. This is referred to as "peer reviewed funding" which means that H. pylori research grants must compete with all other types of medical research grants.

H. pylori is microaerophilic. See the question on how to culture H. pylori above. It probably is possible to transmit H. pylori by kissing but this is not proven.

Some scientists believe H. pylori resides in dental plaque. In Western countries and in patients who have good dental hygiene, H. pylori is not usually found in the mouth.

The driver for going to the doctors was the family feeling ill/sick this was my wife, my son and myself. My son and I did not test positive but my wife did. Is it common that a family will catch H. pylori at the same time, for example eating at the same restaurant.

We don't know whether a vaccine for H. pylori is possible. Nature has been unable to eradicate the organism from the human body after thousands of years of evolution. A vaccine that tricks the immune system into working a different way will probably be required. This may take another 5 to 10 years.

Both my parents and I are infected with H. pylori. My mother was put on Helidac and it cured her infection. If we are all infected with the same strain of H. pylori, wouldn't it be best to use Helidac, as it seems to have been effective with my mother.

Have a look at the review article by Dr. Chey and Dr. Marshall describing the latest treatments for H. pylori. Yes, it is possible that the bacteria are drug resistant. You should have a breath test four weeks after treatment to see if it has been eradicated. You should read the treatment article to work out what the next treatment option is. Yes. Taking Biaxin for a sinus infection will cause the stomach H. pylori infection to become resistant to Biaxin.

If you have decided on an option and you feel comfortable trying the new medications, send your physician a fax requesting a prescription change (Include the printed version of the "Summary Report" and note which option you prefer).