Ask Dr Miriam

Q

I have been diagnosed with the stomach bug, H pylori. It’s infectious so is it easy to infect others?

A

H pylori is buried deep in the digestive tract at the exit from the stomach. It thrives in the acid conditions. It’s very uncommon for one person to pass it to another except between a mother and child. I’ve had the infection and it was passed on to me by my mother years ago.

It can be rather tricky to get rid of because you need a prolonged course of treatment for up to a month. There are several treatments but it usually means taking three or more medicines. You take at least one antibiotic to which H pylori is susceptible, an antacid to deter growth of the bacterium, and an alkali for at least a month during which indigestion symptoms will disappear and you report back to your doctor. Sometimes you need more than one course to clear up the infection.