Private MD Lab Services offers the following test to help diagnose common Heliobacter pylori related gastrointestinal disease:

What is Helicobacter pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria that can cause stomach irritation (gastritis), heartburn, nausea and bloating (dyspepsia), and duodenal and gastric ulcers. H. pylori may also be a factor in the development of stomach cancer.

How does it occur?

H. pylori is a common infection. Most often it is spread from mouth to mouth or from bowel movements. By middle age 50% of adults have been infected with it. It tends to spread among people who are living together, sharing food and bathrooms.

Doctors are trying to learn why some but not most people infected with H. pylori have gastritis and ulcers. Stomach-irritating habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol may contribute to these problems.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms may be:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea.

Symptoms may be worse before or after meals. One third of the people who are infected never have any symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and your family history of stomach problems. He or she will also ask how much alcohol and nicotine you are using. Your provider will examine you.

If your health care provider tests you for H. pylori, there are four ways to do it:

• A blood test to look for antibodies to H. pylori. It is the least costly test and is about 90% accurate in diagnosing H. pylori.
• Blood tests for anemia (which may be a sign of internal bleeding)
• The urea breath test to check for byproducts of H. pylori bacteria. This test is costly and not as available as the blood test, but it is accurate. To do the test, you swallow a substance (urea), which is changed by the bacteria if you have an H. pylori infection. The changed material can be measured in your breath 10 minutes after you swallowed the urea.
• A stool specimen is tested to detect H. pylori stool antigen.
• A procedure called upper endoscopy to see the stomach and intestinal lining and take samples of tissue. This is the most accurate way to diagnose H. pylori. Your provider puts a thin tube with a tiny camera on the end (the endoscope) through your mouth and down into your upper digestive tract. He or she can then look at the stomach or upper intestine for signs of gastritis or ulcers. The doctor may remove a tiny piece of stomach tissue (biopsy) through the tube for lab tests.

Common complications of H. pylori infection are gastritis and ulcers. To check for ulcers, you may have a special stomach x-ray called an upper GI or upper endoscopy. (The upper GI is not helpful in finding H. pylori, but it does find ulcers.)

How is it treated?

Your health care provider may recommend treatment only if you have symptoms of H. pylori infection. If you do have symptoms, you will probably take a combination of medicines, including antibiotics, for up to 2 weeks.

How long will the effects last?

Symptoms of H. pylori infection usually improve within a few days after you start taking the medicine. The symptoms may come back later if you become infected with the bacteria again.

How can I take care of myself?

If you are being treated for H. pylori infection, be sure to take your medicine just as your health care provider has prescribed it. Take the medicine for as long as your provider has prescribed it, even if the symptoms go away before you finish the medicine.

When H. pylori is present, you should try to avoid irritating your stomach. Do not smoke cigarettes. If you find that caffeine, alcohol, or any other particular food or drink causes stomach upset or pain, avoid that food or drink.

You should let your provider know if you are having new symptoms or if your symptoms continue or return.

How can I help prevent H. pylori infection?

Doctors don't yet know how to prevent H. pylori infection.

What is a duodenal ulcer?

A duodenal ulcer is a raw place or sore in the lining of the upper small intestine. It happens in the duodenum, which is where the small intestine connects to the stomach.

How does it occur?

A duodenal ulcer happens when part of the lining of the intestine is eaten away by stomach acid and digestive juices. Normally, the lining of the intestine is protected from stomach acids. However, sometimes this protection fails and ulcers can result.

The most common cause of duodenal ulcers is a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, also called H. pylori. These bacteria cause about 90% of all duodenal ulcers.

Another common cause of ulcers is long-term use of anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Also, ulcers occur more often in people who smoke cigarettes. Other substances that increase the production of stomach acids, such as caffeine, may increase the risk of ulcers and are known to worsen the pain. Stress has been thought to contribute to ulcers, but its role in causing ulcers is not clear.

People with a family history of duodenal ulcers are more likely to get ulcers. The problem is four times more common in men than in women. Most cases of ulcers occur between ages 40 and 50.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include:

• Gnawing or burning abdominal pain, especially in the middle of the upper abdomen
• Pain that may get better when you eat or take antacids
• Pain that gets worse a couple of hours after you eat or before meals
• Pain wakes you up during the night.

If an ulcer is bleeding, you may have:

• Vomit containing either bright red blood or digested blood that looks like brown coffee grounds
• Black, tarry bowel movements.

It is possible, though unusual, to have an ulcer without any symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will review your symptoms, ask about your medical history, and examine you. You may have one or more of these tests:

• An upper GI x-ray (for this test you swallow liquid barium, which may allow your health care provider to see the ulcer on an x-ray)
• Blood tests to look for H. pylori bacteria
• Tests of a sample of your bowel movement to check for blood (which might come from a bleeding ulcer)
• A blood test for anemia (which may be sign of internal bleeding)
• An upper endoscopy, which allows your provider to see an ulcer with a thin flexible tube and tiny camera inserted through your mouth down into your upper digestive tract
• A biopsy, which involves taking a piece of tissue during an endoscopy and sending it to the lab for tests (this is another way to test for H. pylori).

How is it treated?

The goals of treatment are pain relief, healing of the ulcer, and prevention of complications. Treatment can also help prevent recurrence of the ulcer.

Your health care provider may prescribe:

• Antibiotics to treat H. pylori
• Antacids
• Medicine to reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes
• Sucralfate, a medicine that forms a protective barrier over the site of the ulcer to help it heal.

You will probably take the antibiotics for 1 to 2 weeks. You may take medicine to decrease acid for at least 6 weeks. Sometimes medicine needs to be taken for 6 to 12 months to prevent new ulcers.

Antacids can have side effects after you have used them for a while. Follow your health care provider's instructions carefully, and report any problems promptly.

How long will the effects last?

Ulcers get better with treatment but they can come back. You can help reduce the chance that an ulcer will recur by taking your medicines.

About 25% of people with duodenal ulcers develop complications. Possible complications of untreated ulcers are:

• Hemorrhage (a lot of bleeding)
• Perforation (a hole through the wall of the duodenum made by an ulcer)
• Obstruction (ulcer scarring that prevents passage of food).

These complications may require surgery.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the full treatment prescribed by your health care provider. Keep your follow-up appointments.
• Do not smoke cigarettes.
• Ask your provider if you should avoid drugs that irritate the stomach, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Your provider may direct you to use acetaminophen instead. If it is OK to take these drugs, try taking them with food to prevent stomach irritation.
• You may want to make other lifestyle changes such as:
  • Eating healthy meals. Follow the diet prescribed by your health care provider.
  • Avoiding coffee, colas and alcohol.
  • Getting plenty of rest and sleep.
  • Exercising as recommended by your provider. 
• If you keep having symptoms or your symptoms get worse, tell your provider.

How can I help prevent duodenal ulcers?

• Change your lifestyle in ways that might help prevent ulcers.
• Ask your health care provider if you need to take medicine to prevent new ulcers.
  
  

What is a stomach ulcer?

A stomach ulcer, also called a gastric ulcer, is a raw area or open sore in the lining of the stomach.

How does it occur?

The stomach's lining has a protective layer of cells that produce mucus. The mucus prevents the stomach from being injured by stomach acids and digestive juices. When this protective layer is damaged, an ulcer may occur.

Stomach ulcers may develop from:

• The presence of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the most common cause of stomach ulcers
• Decreased resistance of the lining of the stomach to stomach acid
• Increased production of stomach acid.

Stomach ulcers are more likely to occur in people who:

• Regularly take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
• Smoke cigarettes.

Substances that increase the production of stomach acids, such as caffeine, may increase the risk of ulcers and are known to worsen the pain. Stress has been thought to contribute to ulcers, but its role in causing ulcers is not clear.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include:

• Gnawing or burning abdominal pain, especially in the middle of the upper abdomen
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Pain that may get better with eating or taking antacids
• Pain that may get worse a couple of hours after meals or sometimes may be worse before meals
• Pain that awakens you during the night.

If an ulcer is bleeding, you may have:

• Vomit containing bright red blood or digested blood that looks like brown coffee grounds
• Black, tarry bowel movements.

It is possible, though unusual, to have an ulcer without any symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will review your symptoms, ask about your medical history, and examine you. You may have one or more of these tests:

• Upper GI x-ray (for this test you swallow liquid barium, which may allow your health care provider to see the ulcer on an x-ray)
• Blood tests to look for H. pylori bacteria
• Tests of a sample of your bowel movement to check for blood (which might come from a bleeding ulcer)
• Blood test for anemia (which may be a sign of internal bleeding)
• An upper endoscopy, which may allow your provider to see the ulcer with a thin flexible tube and tiny camera inserted through your mouth down into your stomach
• A biopsy, which involves taking a piece of tissue during an endoscopy and sending it to the lab to test for cancer and infection.

How is it treated?

The goals of treatment are pain relief, healing of the ulcer, and prevention of complications. Treatment can also help prevent recurrence of the ulcer.

You may stay in the hospital for the first stage of treatment if your symptoms are severe or if you are having complications, such as bleeding.

Your health care provider may prescribe:

• Antacids (the liquid form is more effective than the tablet form)
• Medicine to reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes
• Antibiotics to treat H. pylori
• Sucralfate, a medicine that forms a protective barrier over the site of the ulcer to help it heal.

Antacids can have side effects after you have used them for a while. Follow your health care provider's instructions carefully, and report any problems promptly.

You will probably take the antibiotics for 1 to 2 weeks. You may take medicine to decrease acid for at least 6 weeks. Sometimes medicine needs to be taken for 6 to 12 months to prevent new ulcers.

How long will the effects last?

Stomach ulcers respond well to treatment but they can recur. You can help reduce the chance that an ulcer will recur by taking your medicine.

Possible complications of untreated ulcers are:

• Hemorrhage (a lot of bleeding)
• Perforation (a hole through the stomach wall produced by an ulcer)
• Obstruction (ulcer scarring that prevents passage of food).

These complications may require surgery.

Two to three percent of stomach ulcers become stomach cancer. Make sure you report all continuing or recurrent symptoms to your health care provider.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the full treatment prescribed by your health care provider. Keep your follow-up appointments.
• Do not smoke cigarettes.
• Ask your provider if you should avoid drugs that irritate the stomach, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Your provider may direct you to use acetaminophen instead. If it is OK to take these drugs, try taking them with food to prevent stomach irritation.
• You may want to make other lifestyle changes such as:
  • Eating healthy meals. Follow the diet prescribed by your health care provider.
  • Avoiding coffee, colas and alcohol.
  • Getting plenty of rest and sleep.
  • Exercising as recommended by your provider. 
• If you keep having symptoms or your symptoms get worse, tell your provider.

How can I help prevent stomach ulcers?

• Change your lifestyle in ways that might help prevent ulcers.
• Ask your health care provider if you need to take medicine to prevent new ulcers.
  
  

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Inflammation means the stomach lining is raw and painful.

How does it occur?

Gastritis is the response of the stomach lining to injury. Many things can cause the inflammation. In its mildest form, gastritis can result from eating too much, eating too fast, or eating certain foods, such as hot spicy foods. Other common causes of gastritis are:

• Infection with the bacteria H. pylori
• Some medicines taken to treat pain and inflammation of other parts of the body, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen
• Steroid medicines, such as prednisone
• Stress from accidents or injuries, such as being in a car wreck, having a bad infection, or getting burned
• Emotional stress
• Smoking cigarettes
• Drinking alcohol.

Caffeine may increase the pain of gastritis.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of gastritis vary from person to person and they vary depending on the cause. Common symptoms are:

• A sharp or burning, uncomfortable feeling in your stomach
• A feeling of bloating, burping, or heartburn that moves upward into your throat
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Mild fever.

At its worst, gastritis can cause the lining of the stomach to bleed, which may cause you to throw up either bloody or dark brown fluid. (The dark fluid, which is partially digested blood, looks like it has coffee grounds in it.) If the blood moves through your stomach and into your intestines, you may have bowel movements that are bloody or black and tarry looking. If you have these symptoms, call your health care provider right away.

How is it diagnosed?

Gastritis is diagnosed from a careful history and physical exam, which may include a rectal exam to check for blood in the stool. Tests that may be done are:

• Gastric lavage, for which a tube is put into the stomach to suction fluid from the stomach for testing
• Upper endoscopy, which means a fiber optic scope is passed down the throat into the stomach to look at the stomach lining and possibly take a sample (biopsy) of it
• Blood tests to check for anemia and infections.

How is it treated?

The treatment of gastritis depends on the cause and how severe it is. Mild gastritis generally gets better on its own. Possible treatments for the symptoms of gastritis are:

• Taking antacids or other medicines that make stomach acid less acidic
• Taking medicines that reduce stomach acid
• Avoiding things that irritate the stomach, such as smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.

If infection with H. pylori is causing the gastritis, your health care provider will prescribe antibiotics.

Once the symptoms are relieved. your provider may continue to look for the underlying cause. Treatment of the cause should keep the gastritis from coming back.

How long will the effects last?

How long the effects last depends on what is causing the gastritis. For example, it may last just a few hours if it is caused by something you ate or drank. It may take several weeks to control symptoms that have been present for awhile.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the instructions your health care provider gives you.
• Eat only bland foods, such as soda crackers, toast, plain pasta, noodles, bananas, and baked or broiled potatoes and clear liquids, until symptoms stop.
• Regardless of the underlying cause of the gastritis, you can make it better or worse with what you eat and drink and the medicines you take. Avoid spicy or acidic foods. When your symptoms are gone, ask your provider for diet recommendations.
• Do not drink regular or decaf coffee or alcohol.
• Do not take anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. If you need something for pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer if your liver is normal and you take it as directed.
• Long-term gastritis increases the risk of stomach cancer. Be sure to let your provider know if your symptoms are not getting better and especially if they are getting worse.

How can I help prevent gastritis?

Everyone's stomach is different. Some ways that might help prevent gastritis are:

• If you find that aspirin causes you to get gastritis, then use a different medicine. (If your health care provider has prescribed aspirin for you, be sure to ask about stopping the aspirin.)
• Keep track of what you ate before an attack. Avoid foods that seem to trigger gastritis. If you get gastritis every time you eat chili, avoid it.