H. Pylori Testing & Treatment

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a common type of bacteria that infects the stomach lining. Many people carry it without symptoms, but it can cause stomach ulcers, chronic gastritis, and even increase the risk of stomach cancer if left untreated. The good news: it's easy to test for and very treatable.

Testing is recommended if you have persistent stomach pain, bloating, nausea, or a family history of stomach cancer. Treating H. pylori eliminates the infection, heals ulcers, and significantly reduces the risk of stomach cancer. Most patients feel dramatically better within days of starting treatment.

1. Breath test: You drink a special solution and breathe into a bag — the lab analyzes your breath for signs of the bacteria (non-invasive, takes about 30 minutes)
2. Stool test: A simple stool sample is analyzed in the lab for H. pylori antigens
3. Endoscopy biopsy: During an endoscopy, a tiny tissue sample is taken and tested
4. If positive, treatment involves a course of antibiotics combined with acid-reducing medication for 10–14 days

Test: 30 min | Treatment: 2 weeks

• ✓Fasting for 4 hours before breath test
• ✓Stop acid-reducing medications 2 weeks before breath test
• ✓No antibiotics for 4 weeks before testing

• •Breath or stool tests are non-invasive and results come back within 30 minutes
• •If treatment is needed, you'll take a combination of 3–4 medications for about 2 weeks
• •Most patients tolerate treatment well — mild nausea or taste changes may occur temporarily
• •A follow-up test 4 weeks after finishing treatment confirms the bacteria is gone