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This article explains that Helicobacter pylori spreads easily in families due to Chinese eating habits. Prolonged infection can lead to gastritis, ulcers, intestinal metaplasia, and even gastric cancer. Doctors call for early detection and treatment of high-risk groups.
In early October, “Knife –tumor An international publication was published in The Lancet Oncologycancer A research report conducted by the Indian Institute of Research (IARC). The report shows that an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 will be due to infections, about 12% of the total. Among them, gastric cancer caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) ranks first with about 760,000 cases, of which “China, Japan, and South Korea in East Asia contributed about half.” Studies have confirmed that Helicobacter pylori infection rates in households that do not use “serving chopsticks” are significantly higher than in households that do use serving chopsticks.
Jianjun Li, MD, a gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic specialist at Render in New York City, explains that Helicobacter pylori is spread primarily through the “oral” route. Most Chinese families in the United States have a “shared meal” system and rarely use chopsticks and spoons in public. This is also true when going out to eat at a restaurant, bringing other people’s bacteria-laden saliva into your mouth. “. About 80% of Li Jianjun’s patients are Chinese, and often “one person is infected and the whole family is infected.” He estimated that the Helicobacter pylori infection rate among Chinese should be between 15% and 20%, which is lower than the infection rate in China but higher than the infection rate among white Americans.
Li Jianjun pointed out that a research paper published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) in 2023 showed that scientific researchers studied the Helicobacter pylori infection rate in Southeast Asia, South Korea and China, which was about 63%, and its infection rate was 3.2 times that of Americans.
He said saliva contains many disease-causing bacteria and viruses, but the most common is Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach problems and even gastric cancer.
Helicobacter pylori is spread by direct contact with saliva, vomit, or feces, and can also spread through contaminated food and water.
Helicobacter pylori infection primarily affects the gastric mucosa and upper small intestine. Most people infected with Helicobacter pylori will not have any signs or symptoms; If symptoms occur, it is usually a burning sensation or pain in the stomach (stomach area), and symptoms may worsen on an empty stomach.
Other symptoms include bloating and frequent belching, nausea or stomach upset, loss of appetite, weight loss, and bleeding from stomach ulcers that can cause black, tarry stools or vomiting blood.
Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic inflammation that damages the gastric mucosa over time. Prolonged infection can lead to chronic gastritis (inflammation) and ulcers, which may further develop into atrophic gastritis, cellular lesions, and gastric cancer.
Statistics show that about half of the world’s population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, and about 4% of them will suffer from gastric cancer. Additionally, some highly virulent strains (such as strains that produce cagga toxin), smoking, and a high-salt diet may increase the risk of cancer.
Li Jianjun said that if doctors suspect that a patient is infected with bacteria, they will ask the patient to do some tests.
