Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the 15th edition of the Carcinogen Report, of which 8 new carcinogens, Helicobacter pylori for the first time was listed as a clear carcinogen.
In our country, the average infection rate of Helicobacter pylori is almost 60%. Is there a high probability of carcinogenicity after infection with this bacterium? What are the ways in which it spreads? How to prevent it? Earlier, the reporter interviewed the gastroenterology experts of Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University on related issues.
How common is Helicobacter pylori?
According to reports, Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans, accounting for more than 50% of natural bacterial infections worldwide. Among them, the infection rate in developing countries exceeds that in developed countries. The probability of infection with Helicobacter pylori in various regions of China varies significantly, with an average infection rate of 59%, of which the infection rate of children averages 40%.
△ Helicobacter pylori (data map)
Is there a high risk of cancer from Helicobacter pylori infection?
"A positive Helicobacter pylori has a high risk of cancer", which is a misunderstanding.
From the current study, most Helicobacter pylori positive do not have major harms and symptoms, and only 10% to 20% of infected people will develop peptic ulcers. Less than 1% of infected people develop gastric mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and may be at risk of becoming cancerous.
Most patients with Helicobacter pylori infection have no clinical symptoms or complications
Experts say that most people infected with Helicobacter pylori have no clinical symptoms and complications, and can detect whether they are infected with Helicobacter pylori by detecting the level of carbon dioxide exhaled by the most common non-invasive methods, including carbon-13 or carbon-14 breath experiments.
Can Helicobacter pylori be eradicated? How to eradicate?
According to experts from the Department of Gastroenterology of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Helicobacter pylori can be eradicated. But first assess whether there are indications for radical cure before treatment. People like young people with no special family history, infected people without symptoms, such people are not recommended to do eradication therapy.
At present, tetratherapy containing bismuth has become a first-line treatment option for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Experts suggest that the eradication of Helicobacter pylori should be taken regularly according to the doctor's instructions.
How can I prevent infection with Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is mainly transmitted through the mouth-to-mouth and fecal-oral routes. Daily behaviors such as eating together, eating water or food infected with Helicobacter pylori, not washing hands after contact with people and animals, kissing, and feeding your child "mouth-to-mouth" can all be infected with Helicobacter pylori.
△Infographic (Image source/Visual China)
Stay away from Helicobacter pylori and develop these habits:
Disinfect the tableware and divide the meals.
Do not eat raw or too hot foods. They stimulate the gastric mucosa, reducing its resistance, thus creating the conditions for the invasion of Helicobacter pylori.
Don't "mouth-to-mouth" feeding. Some elderly people like to feed their children with some food, which is one of the ways to be very easily transmitted.
Wash your hands and mouth promptly.
High-risk groups should undergo regular medical examinations. High-risk groups of Helicobacter pylori should have gastroscopy every 2 to 3 years, adults under 50 years of age need to have gastroscopy every 3 years, and those over 50 years old should do it every 2 years.
Source丨 CCTV News WeChat public account, Science and Technology Daily
Editor 丨 Donna Lee
Responsible editor 丨 Wang Jing
Audit 丨 Wang Jing
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