Helicobacter: what symptoms are typical?

Helicobacter pylori infection is often asymptomatic – about 80 % of carriers have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they typically include epigastric pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea, and loss of appetite. These are often mistaken for functional dyspepsia. Chronic infection can lead to gastritis, peptic ulcers (gastric or duodenal), and in rare cases gastric cancer. Alarm signs such as blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, or persistent pain require immediate medical evaluation. The evidence for these symptoms is human-strong, based on large cohort studies and meta-analyses. Important: DNA testing for Helicobacter is not indicated; diagnosis is made via urea breath test, stool antigen test, or endoscopy with biopsy. Eradication therapy with antibiotics is well-established, but antibiotic resistance is rising. In asymptomatic individuals without risk factors (e.g., family history of gastric cancer), routine testing is not recommended.