Test for a Helicobacter | Helicobacter pylori

Test for a Helicobacter

When detecting Helicobacter pylori, a distinction is made between so-called invasive and non-invasive methods. Invasive means that one penetrates into body tissue. There are several non-invasive test methods.

With these, a colonization with Helicobacter pylori is in principle very easy to detect. One of the simplest methods uses the normal exhaled air of the patient. Helicobacter is the only inhabitant of the stomach that has the ability to form ammonia from urea by releasing carbon dioxide (CO2).

This ability is essential for him to survive in the extremely acidic environment in the stomach. The urea of Helicobacter pylori can be easily detected in exhaled air, as it will never be found in healthy people. One of the equally simple methods is detection in the stool of the potentially infected person.

The antibodies that fight Helicobacter pylori in the body can also be detected in the blood count of the affected person. Since these test methods are not 100% accurate, invasive detection methods are often used despite the greater effort involved, especially the sampling (= biopsy) in the course of a gastroscopy. This sample is then examined in the laboratory and evaluated microscopically. For more information please visit our page: Helicobacter pylori breath test.

Diseases

Although Helicobacter pylori naturally colonizes the human stomach, infection with this bacterium can lead to various acute or chronic stomach diseases and associated complications. Helicobacter pylori plays a role in bacterial gastritis (B-gastritis), some gastric and duodenal ulcers (ulcus ventriculi, ulcus duodeni), inflammation of the duodenum and gastric mucosal atrophy.Chronic infection of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori is associated with the risk of developing gastric carcinoma or lymphoma originating from mucosal associated lymphatic tissue (MALT lymphoma). These are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Since 1994, Helicobacter pylori has therefore also been included in Group 1 of carcinogens (=cancer-causing substances) defined according to WHO criteria.

  • Esophagus (esophagus)
  • Cardia
  • Corpus
  • Small Curvature
  • Fundus
  • Large Curvature
  • Duodenum (duodenum)
  • Pylorus
  • Antrum