Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, is a common bacterium found in the gastric mucosa of more than half of the population. Although asymptomatic in most cases, this bacterium can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications if not treated early.
Dr. Eliana Montiel Portillo, a specialist in the Digestive System Department at Hospiten Sur University Hospital, warns that the main symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite, among others. ‘At Hospiten, we recommend that people who experience persistent digestive symptoms or who have a family history of gastric cancer undergo testing to assess the condition and eradicate the bacteria before other complications arise,’ she says.
The diagnosis can be made using various tests. ‘There are some simpler ones, such as the 13C or 14C-labelled urea breath test and the stool antigen test, and others that are more complex, such as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with gastric biopsy,’ explains the doctor. She also warns that it is necessary to stop taking gastric protectors at least two weeks before undergoing a diagnostic test.
As for treatment, the specialist comments that, in standard cases, stomach protectors that reduce the amount of gastric acid are prescribed, in addition to a combination of antibiotics. ‘Currently, we are using quadruple therapy with bismuth, especially in regions with high rates of antibiotic resistance,’ she points out.
The doctor also clarifies that ‘eradicating this bacterium not only improves dyspeptic symptoms, but also significantly reduces the risk of ulcer recurrence and gastric cancer in at-risk populations.’ After completing treatment, it is recommended to repeat one of the non-invasive diagnostic tests, with the breath test as the first choice, to confirm that the bacterium has been successfully eliminated.
Hospiten reaffirms its duty to patients through the prevention and immediate diagnosis of these types of complications, offering simple and effective treatments that promote well-being and prevent other types of related pathologies from developing in the future.
About Hospiten
Hospiten is an international healthcare network with more than 55 years of experience committed to providing the highest quality service. It has 20 private medical-hospital centres in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Panama, as well as 175 outpatient medical centres under the Clinic Assist brand. Founded by Dr. Pedro Luis Cobiella, it treats more than three million patients from around the world each year and has a staff of more than 5,000 people. This care will be reinforced in the Community of Madrid thanks to the construction of a general university hospital in Boadilla del Monte, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
MD Anderson Cancer Centre Madrid – Hospiten is a subsidiary of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, USA. With more than twenty years of history in our country, MD Anderson Madrid – Hospiten currently has a Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, more than 150 medical specialists trained in oncology, a total of 87 hospital beds and state-of-the-art technological equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer.