Discussion 3

Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori, commonly referred to as H. pylori is a microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach. I didn’t know what microaerophilic meant and upon looking it up learned it is a microorganism that requires oxygen to survive, but requires lower levels than are present in the atmosphere. The shape of H. pylori and the way it moves allows it to penetrate the stomachs protective mucous lining, they can also attach to cells of the stomach causing inflammation and the production of excess stomach acid. H. pylori often presents with symptoms similar to ulcers or gastritis. Symptoms can include gnawing or burning abdominal pain, weight loss, appetite loss, bloating, burping, nausea, vomiting, and black tarry stools.

Photo credit: http://www.worldngayon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Helicobacter-pylori.jpg Retrieved April 29th 2013.

Treatments for H. pylori include antibiotics, medications that can reduce the amount of stomach acid, and surgery to treat ulcers that result from the disease. The best recommended treatment is prevention because doctors do not fully know how the bacteria is spread so there are no guidelines for preventing it. Scientists do believe the infection may be contracted through food and water. Something I found very interesting about this illness is that most people infected with the bacteria never have symptoms or problems! Over eighty percent of people infected do not exhibit symptoms. Infection rate in the United States is between twenty to thirty percent and much higher in impoverished countries and in economic groups characterized with crowded living conditions, poor sanitary conditions and unclean water.

I think as we forge forward infectious disease may play a huge role in our lives. There is already a lot of talk and research involving “super bugs” that are resistant to very strong antibiotics which I do think has a lot to do with over usage of antibiotics.  I also think as technology continues to advance we will be able to treat more and more diseases but there can be so many unknowns. I chose H. pylori because I was working with a woman whose son contracted it and it was a complicated case. He went through a lot of treatments and inpatient hospital stays before he was finally a fully healthy teenager again. I didn't really understand the disease and wanted to learn more. 

Sources

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/helicobacter_pylori_h_pylori/article_em.htm   

Wedro, Benjamin. Retrieved April 29, 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicobacter_pylori  Wikepedia. Retrieved April 29^th 2013.