A bacterial infection takes place when the microorganisms enter the body, multiply and bring a reaction in the body. Bacteria finds its way into the body orally, through openings like a surgical wound, cut, or through the airway. Helicobacter is caused by a human pathogen, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The gram-negative pathogen is microaerophilic and motile with a helical shape, enabling it to penetrate the mucoid lining and cause infection (VanMeter & Hubert, 2016). The bacteria can be spread from one individual to another by straight interaction with saliva, stool, or vomit. The pathogen can also be spread through contaminated water or food and primarily affects the stomach. When H. pylori enter the body, it lives in the digestive tract for some period causing both atrophic and metaplastic changes in the stomach, which lead to the development of sores within the stomach lining and small intestines. This bacterium is responsible for the development of peptic ulcer disease and gastritis.
Most individuals don’t experience symptoms related to H. pylori; instead, they experience symptoms that arise due to peptic ulcer or gastritis when the bacteria damage the stomach lining. Common signs and symptoms include dull pain within the stomach, common after a meal or at night. Other symptoms include bloating, burping, weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting (bloody vomit), nausea, indigestion, and dyspepsia. Once diagnosed, H. pylori treatment involves the use of antibiotics such as amoxicillin, metronidazole (Flagyl), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or tinidazole (Tindamax), among other antibiotics. The treatment also involves drugs that reduce acid in the stomach, like dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) or lansoprazole (Prevacid). Medications like cimetidine (Tagamet) and nizatidine (Axid) can also be essential in blocking chemical histamine, which triggers the stomach to produce more acid. The treatment process can take a few weeks, where one is subjected to a heavy dosage to fight the bacteria.
Case Study
Smith Badin, a 25-year-old white male weighing 50 Kg and 168 cm tall, presents with complaints of abdominal pain. The patient complains of unplanned weight loss, which he understands results from poor appetite. He narrates that the pain begins a few hours after eating or at night, waking him from sleep. The patient states that he planned to seek medical help after discovering blood in his vomit and the prevalence of abdominal pains. Kindly help me diagnose Smith Badin’s condition based on the presented symptoms.
Reference
VanMeter, K., & Hubert, R. (2016). Microbiology for the healthcare professional (2nd ed., Vol. 1). Elsevier Press.