Helicobacter pylori: What You Need to Know

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common stomach bacterium. Lots of people carry it and never feel sick, but for some it causes persistent stomach pain, bloating, nausea, heartburn, or unexplained weight loss. H. pylori also raises the chance of peptic ulcers and, rarely, stomach cancer—so finding and treating it matters when symptoms appear.

How doctors test for H. pylori

Your doctor can check for H. pylori in a few ways. The easiest are the urea breath test and stool antigen test—both detect active infection. Blood antibody tests show past exposure only and are less useful for confirming current infection. If you have alarming symptoms (severe pain, vomiting, bleeding) an endoscopy with biopsy may be needed for a clear diagnosis.

Important tip: if you’re on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI, like omeprazole) or antibiotics, tell your doctor. PPIs can make some tests falsely negative; doctors often ask you to stop PPIs two weeks before testing and finish antibiotics at least four weeks prior to re-testing.

Treatment that actually works

Treatment usually combines a PPI plus two antibiotics for 10–14 days. Common pairs include amoxicillin with clarithromycin or metronidazole, but local antibiotic resistance affects which combo your doctor chooses. If standard therapy fails, a bismuth quadruple therapy (PPI, bismuth, and two antibiotics) is a strong backup.

Finish every pill. Incomplete treatment is the main reason H. pylori comes back. Side effects like diarrhea or nausea happen; probiotics may reduce antibiotic-related diarrhea, but ask your provider before adding them.

After treatment, doctors usually confirm eradication with a urea breath or stool test at least four weeks after finishing antibiotics. That check is not optional—clearing the infection lowers long-term risks.

Simple prevention steps cut the chance of spread: wash hands well, avoid sharing eating utensils or drinks with someone who's infected, and make sure food and water are prepared safely. While H. pylori often spreads in childhood in crowded settings, good hygiene still helps.

When to see help now: get checked if you have ongoing stomach pain, black stools, vomiting blood, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or symptoms that don’t improve with basic measures. Bring a list of current meds and allergies to your visit—those details shape safe treatment choices.

Bottom line: H. pylori is common but treatable. Proper testing, a full course of the right antibiotics, and a follow-up test are the practical steps that actually solve the problem. If you suspect an infection, talk to your healthcare provider and keep track of symptoms while on therapy.