Also described as: “Pet mein chhale, gastritis”
Common symptoms
- Burning or gnawing upper abdominal pain
- Pain that improves or worsens with food
- Nausea, bloating or early fullness
- Loss of appetite
See a doctor promptly if
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Severe sudden abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Persistent vomiting
What is H. pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in the stomach lining. It is common in India and is a leading cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and a risk factor for stomach cancer.
Testing
H. pylori can be detected with a urea breath test, stool antigen test or biopsy during endoscopy. Acid-reducing tablets and antibiotics can make tests falsely negative, so timing matters.
Treatment
Eradication uses a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medicine for 10–14 days. Completing the full course and confirming eradication afterwards is important because antibiotic resistance is increasing.
Painkillers (NSAIDs) are the other main cause of ulcers — tell us about any you take.
How we can help
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shivam Kalia MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology) · Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist