H-Pylori Breath Test

Last updated on May 23rd, 2022 at 01:33 pm

What is H. Pylori Breath Test? What is H. Pylori Infection?

H. Pylori falls under the group of bacteria that is found in the stomach and is known for causing several types of stomach diseases (gastritis, ulcer cancers, and many others).

Many of the victims of this bacteria show little to no symptoms so, realizing if you are infected can be difficult. And if left untreated, it can be fatal to you.

So, H. Pylori Breath Test is done to find its presence in the stomach and treat it before it causes any problems. This test is easy and can be performed safely.

Pylori breath test is one of the tests that are now available in Clinic One Kathmandu along with Endoscopy and Colonoscopy.

Which department of doctors diagnoses and treats this infection?

The H. Pylori bacterial infection is diagnosed and treated by the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Medicine.

Causes of H – Pylori Infection

Health care providers have not been able to find the exact cause of H. Pylori bacteria but, it is believed that it is transmitted through:

• Direct contact (through saliva, vomit, or fecal matter) with a person infected with this bacteria,
• By coming in direct contact with infected food or water. 

Symptoms of H- Pylori Infection

As already stated, people infected with this bacteria show little to no symptoms. But those who do, show the following symptoms, that are usually related to gastritis or a peptic ulcer.

• Burning sensation (pain) in the stomach,
• Abdominal pain (which worsens on empty stomach),
• Bloating,
• Nausea,
• Unintentional loss of appetite or weight,
• Burping continuously,
• Dark stools, etc.

High-Risk Groups of H- Pylori Infection

Generally, most people are infected with H. Pylori bacteria during childhood. So, risk factors depend upon the living condition that you had while in childhood, such as:

• Spending childhood in a very crowded place,
• Drinking infected water (those who don’t have a supply of safe drinking water),
• Those who live in developing countries have a higher chance of getting this infection,
• Coming in contact with an infected person (living with them, eating food/water touched by them, etc.)

Who & when should you get H-Pylori test?

A person who has come in contact with an infected person, or person who shows any or all of the symptoms stated above should get H. Pylori test.

Consult with a doctor if you show any or all of the symptoms or if your symptoms persist or worsen.

Book an appointment with a Gastroenterologist at Clinic One Kathmandu

[clincic_appointment_button type=’appointment’ title=’Gastritis appointment’]

Preparations before the Procedure

Don’t worry, your doctor will provide you with guidance regarding your role before this procedure.

• Generally, your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain medications for a minimum of 4 weeks (2 weeks for some medications) before taking this test.
• You are not allowed to eat or drink anything 1 hour before this test.

But don’t do anything without permission and/or guidance from your doctor.

PS don’t forget to disclose any conditions you may have, if you are pregnant, or have allergies to any medication.

How is H- Pylori Breath test done? What happens during the procedure?

We use the new method of non-radioactive (13 C) H. pylori breath test at Clinic One, in comparison to the previous method of radioactive 14 C H. pylori breath test.

• On the day of the test, your doctor will explain this procedure in length and answer any questions you may have. The test usually takes 20-60 minutes.

• At first, your breath sample will be taken.

• After that, you will be asked to take a pill/liquid/pudding (don’t worry they are completely harmless but, be sure to disclose any allergies or conditions you have regarding medications).

• And again, another sample of your breath will be taken.

• Explanation: when you take the pill/liquid/pudding (containing nonradioactive isotope carbon 13 (¹³C-labelled urea)) if you have H. Pylori bacteria, your stomach will break down the pill/liquid/pudding and expels carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct.

• Then a second sample of your breath will be taken.

• Both the sample bags are then sent to the lab for further analysis.

How long does the result take?

Usually, it takes a couple of days to get the lab result of the test. So, in the meantime, you may resume your daily activity unless told otherwise by your doctor.

Test Results Interpretation

Your doctor will compare your breath samples before and after taking the pill/liquid/pudding. If the second sample contains higher CO2 levels, it means you have H. Pylori infection.

If your test comes negative, you may resume your daily activities (Ask your doctor for guidance).

Don’t worry if your test result comes positive because there are many treatments available for curing this infection. Consult your doctor for treatment.

How to book an appointment for H- Pylori Test?

Booking an appointment at Clinic One is pretty easy.

You have the option of emailing us or calling us (given below) or simply coming in person to make an appointment, the choice is yours.

Our customer service department will choose a time at which both you and our doctor(s) are available.

Email: info@clinicone.com.np
Contact no: 9863393960 | 9801109235 | 015400400
or, Request an appointment below.

Reference:

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/5217-h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori-breath-test–urea-breath-test
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356177
• https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/urea-breath-test
• https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/helicobacter-pylori-h-pylori-tests/
• https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21463-h-pylori-infection