H. Pylori Gastritis Specialist

What is H. pylori gastritis?

Gastritis is a group of medical conditions that affect the lining of your stomach. These conditions cause inflammation in the stomach lining and weaken the barrier of mucus that protects your stomach from damage by your digestive juices.

You can develop H. pylori gastritis from an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which you can get from another person or from contaminated food or water. If you frequently use alcohol or certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, you can also develop gastritis.

Acute H. pylori gastritis can develop suddenly, or you can have chronic H. pylori gastritis that affects your stomach on an ongoing basis. If left untreated, H. pylori gastritis can cause stomach ulcers and may even increase your risk for stomach cancer.

What are the symptoms of H. pylori gastritis?

1. pylori gastritis can cause a burning ache or pain in your upper abdomen that either worsens or feels better when you eat. It’s also common to have symptoms like:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal fullness

In some cases, H. pylori gastritis causes no symptoms at all.

If your pain and other H. pylori gastritis symptoms last longer than a week, it’s important to seek a H. pylori gastritis evaluation at Seven Corners Medical Center as soon as possible.

How is H. pylori gastritis diagnosed?

In many cases, Dr. Sopko and Dr. George can diagnose H. pylori gastritis based on your symptoms. However, to ensure that other underlying conditions aren’t causing your pain, they may request an H. pylori test. The H. pylori bacteria can be found in your blood, stool, or breath.

To determine the severity of damage in your stomach lining caused by chronic H. pylori gastritis, Dr. George and Dr. Sopko may recommend an upper digestive endoscopy. During this procedure, a thin, flexible tube passes down your throat and into your stomach. The tube contains a light and  a camera, which sends real-time images of your stomach to an external monitor.

How is H. pylori gastritis treated?

If you test positive for H. pylori bacteria, Dr. George or Dr. Sopko prescribes a course of antibiotics to clear the infection. You may also need medications that block the production of acid in your body.

To prevent the recurrence of H. pylori gastritis, you may need to make changes to your diet. Eating smaller meals and avoiding foods that irritate your stomach can relieve existing discomfort and prevent new bouts of H. pylori gastritis.

If you have H. pylori gastritis and need relief, schedule a consultation now by calling Seven Corners Medical Center or by requesting an appointment online.