Helicobacter pylori infection history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yamuna Kondapally, M.B.B.S[2]

Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include history of nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain or abdominal pain, bloating, gastrointestinal bleeding, anorexia, weight loss, pallor, a positive history of GI diseases or H. pylori infection, history of medication use (NSAIDS) and food and drinking water hygiene. Majority of patients infected are asymptomatic. Symptoms of H. pylori infection include halitosis, nausea, vomiting, epigastric or abdominal pain, bloating, belching, dark or tarry like stools (melena), fatigue, diarrhea and unexplained weight loss.

Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include history of:^[1][2][3]

• Nausea & vomiting
• Epigastric or abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Pain aggravating or relieving with food
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Anorexia
• Weight loss
• Pallor
• Previous laboratory findings of anemia
• A positive family history of GI diseases or H. pylori infection
• History of medication use (NSAIDS)
• Food and drinking water hygiene

If H. pylori infection is suspected in children, the history of the patient should include:

• Pain (location, character, duration, radiation, severity, aggravating and relieving factor)
• Diet, appetite and weight changes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bloating
• A positive family history of Gastrointestinal diseases (eg., Ulcers, crohn's disease) or H. pylori infection
• History of NSAIDS use
• Food and drinking water hygiene

Majority of patients infected are asymptomatic. Symptoms of H. pylori infection include:

• Halitosis
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Epigastric or abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Belching
• Early satiety
• Dark or tarry like stools (melena)
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss

Functional dyspepsia: Rome III diagnostic criteria for gastrointestinal disorders

B1. FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

Diagnostic criteria Must include:^[4]

1: One or more of the following:

• Bothersome postprandial fullness
• Early satiety
• Epigastric pain
• Epigastric burning

And

2: No evidence of structural disease (including at upper endoscopy) that is likely to explain the symptoms

• Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset

at least 6 months prior to diagnosis

Approach to the management of dyspeptic patients

Adopted from Gut 1997 Jul; 41(1): 8–13.^[5]

• The cutoff value may be below 45 years of age depending on regional differences in the incidence of gastric malignancy