What is Helicobacter pylori?
Q: What is Helicobacter pylori?
A: Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that has a spiral shape and is found in the stomach or on its lining.
Q: What is the cause of more than 90 percent of ulcers?
A: H. pylori is the cause of more than 90 percent of ulcers, which are sores found in the lining of the stomach or the duodenum.
Q: What did doctors believe was the cause of most ulcers before 1982?
A: Before 1982, doctors thought that spicy food, acid, stress, and lifestyle caused most ulcers.
Q: How can most ulcers be cured now?
A: Doctors now know that most ulcers are caused by an H. pylori infection, and they can be cured with the correct antibiotics.
Q: Who were the scientists who discovered H. pylori, and what prize did they win for their work?
A: Australian scientists Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren were the first to discover H. pylori, and they won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005 for their work.
Q: What is the duodenum?
A: The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.
Q: What are the symptoms of an H. pylori infection?
A: Common symptoms of an H. pylori infection include stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. However, some people with an H. pylori infection may not experience any symptoms at all.
