Definition of Helicobacter in Kale

Acute pain and discomfort in the stomach are common, and these symptoms affect the general condition of the patient. Often, stomach pain is accompanied by nausea, belching, and heaviness. These signs can be permanent, which indicates a chronic process in the body. Consider the causes of gastric pain and discomfort and recommendations for their elimination.

Analysis of Helicobacter pylori

Often, problems associated with the stomach are provoked by a pathogenic bacterium – Helicobacter pylori. It has the appearance of a spiral and is recognized as a pathogenic parasitic microorganism. Under the conditions of the human body, it multiplies and begins to produce toxins, which subsequently affect the mucous membrane of the duodenum and stomach.

Helicobacter refers to such bacteria that can cause an inflammatory process, with the subsequent development of gastritis or ulcers. Previously, doctors associated stomach pain only with malnutrition, and patients with similar symptoms were prescribed special diets. But with the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, it has been proven that the cause of ulcers and gastritis is actually often this microorganism. The routes of transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection are not entirely clear to this day. There is evidence of gastro-oral, oral-oral, and fecal-oral routes of transmission. Genetic factors also play a role.

Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, you need to know the first rules of prevention and periodically take appropriate tests. It should be noted that almost all bacteria die in an acidic environment, but Helicobacter pylori quickly gets used to it and masters it. Microorganisms are able to develop in an acidic gastric environment.

Due to its properties, this parasite easily penetrates the walls of the esophagus and adapts to different environments, especially to aggressive ones. The bacterium moves with the help of small flagella, which easily stick to the mucous membrane. Every day more and more people become infected with this microorganism. In Russia, the disease is diagnosed several dozen times more often than in Europe and the United States of America.

Experts attribute this to a low standard of living, poor hygiene, living in unsanitary conditions, and much more.

When is a stool test for Helicobacter prescribed?

The main indications for the analysis are the patient’s complaints about:

• acute pain in the stomach after eating;
• involuntary belching;
• continuous heartburn;
• nausea accompanied by vomiting;
• swelling;
• diarrhea or constipation that lasts more than three days;
• sudden weight loss;
• bleeding in vomit and feces.

Not all symptoms may indicate the development of an infection in the body, but in any case, it is necessary to undergo a laboratory examination. Based on the results, the doctor will be able to finally confirm or exclude the presence of such microorganisms.

Also, the doctor may prescribe a stool test for the determination of Helicobacter for those patients who have a genetic predisposition to chronic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer.

In almost all cases, infection occurs from relatives or in crowded places (schools, kindergartens).

Preparing and conducting analysis

Fecal analysis is included in the list of laboratory studies, the purpose of which is to search for pathogens of various diseases. Thanks to this analysis, pathogenic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract are easily detected. To get a more accurate result, you need to properly prepare for the analysis.

It is very important not to take antibacterial and laxative drugs a week before the analysis, it is also worth refraining from rectal suppositories. Any medication should be agreed with the attending physician.

To collect feces, it is important to use a special sterile container (sold in a pharmacy). If you are unable to go to the toilet, then you should not use laxatives or give an enema. This can significantly affect the results of the analysis. The collected material can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 11 hours, but it is better that it gets into laboratory conditions within five hours.

In the laboratory, the obtained material is studied using the polymerase chain reaction, which refers to molecular genetic diagnostics. Thanks to this technique, even the smallest fragments of parasite DNA can be detected. It is very important that the study is carried out in appropriate conditions and at the correct temperature.

Explanation of results

If feces were analyzed to determine the presence of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the body, then this is a qualitative result, which can be positive or negative. If the result turned out to be positive, then this means that the corresponding pathogen is present in the feces.

With the help of a stool culture tank, this microorganism is qualitatively and quantitatively determined. There are four main stages in the development of Helicobacter pylori. The first stage – growth was found only on a solid medium; no bacteria were detected in a liquid medium. The second stage – the microflora multiplies and grows. The third stage – there is a significant growth, which reaches 100 colonies. The fourth stage is the high growth of bacteria, exceeding 100 colonies.

If the patient was diagnosed with the third or fourth stage, then this confirms that an inflammatory process is taking place in the body. The presence of Helicobacter pylori in human feces does not indicate the possible presence of a stomach ulcer or other pathological processes of the gastrointestinal tract in a patient.

To make a more accurate diagnosis for the patient, laboratory tests are not enough, it is also important to conduct instrumental, in particular, ultrasound and endoscopic examination. If a serious pathology is suspected, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination with a histological analysis.

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