Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterium. It mainly settles in the human gastric mucosa, causing stomach diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. The infection of Helicobacter pylori has a serious impact on human health. In this article, we will explore the sources, infection pathways, and mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.
1、 The source of Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative curved bacterium with a special spiral shape that can twist and penetrate the gastric mucosa. Helicobacter pylori can survive in the extremely acidic environment of gastric acid and colonize by attaching to the surface of the gastric mucosa.
Helicobacter pylori mainly exists in the human stomach environment. It can be transmitted through oral, saliva, feces, and other means. Infected individuals can become infected through contact with infected individuals or ingestion of contaminated food and water sources. In some developing countries and areas with poor conditions, water pollution is a common route of transmission.
Helicobacter pylori has the following characteristics: Acid resistance: The unique acid resistance of Helicobacter pylori allows it to survive and reproduce in environments with strong stomach acid, while other bacteria usually cannot survive in such harsh conditions.
Spiral shape: Helicobacter pylori has a spiral like shape, which allows it to swim on the mucosa and burrow into the mucosal layer, thereby evading the host's immune defense.
Strong adhesion ability: Helicobacter pylori has adhesion factors on its surface, allowing it to tightly adhere to the gastric mucosa and prevent it from being washed away by gastric juice.
2、 The transmission route of Helicobacter pylori
Oral transmission: Helicobacter pylori can exist in dental plaque and saliva in the mouth. Sharing utensils, toothbrushes, or frequent intimate contact with infected individuals, such as kissing, can lead to the spread of bacteria.
Fecal oral transmission: Helicobacter pylori can be transmitted through food or water sources contaminated with feces. This may occur during food processing, such as undercooked food, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.
Medical transmission: In the medical environment, Helicobacter pylori can be transmitted through medical devices, blood products, and injections. Unreasonable use or sharing of medical devices, as well as improper operation, may lead to cross infection.
3、 The mechanism of Helicobacter pylori infection
Adhesion: Helicobacter pylori binds to the epithelial cells on the surface of the gastric mucosa through its surface adhesion factors, such as feeding vesicles and adhesion proteins. This allows bacteria to firmly adhere to the gastric mucosa, making it difficult for the body to remove them.
Neutralizing stomach acid: Helicobacter pylori can produce urease, which can break down urea in the stomach cavity into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Ammonia neutralizes stomach acid, raising the pH value of the gastric cavity and providing conditions for the survival of bacteria.
Destruction of mucosal barrier: The virulence factors produced by Helicobacter pylori can destroy the mucosal barrier of the gastric mucosa, such as surface proteins, bacterial toxins, etc. This leads to damage to the gastric mucosa, allowing stomach acid and pepsin to penetrate the mucosal barrier and invade the mucosal tissue, triggering an inflammatory response.
Inducing inflammatory response: Helicobacter pylori infection can trigger an immune response in the body, releasing inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, interleukins, etc., leading to an inflammatory response in the gastric mucosa. This may lead to damage and ulceration of gastric mucosal tissue.
Promoting cell proliferation: Helicobacter pylori infection can promote the proliferation of gastric mucosal epithelial cells, leading to tissue dysplasia and dysplasia, increasing the risk of gastric cancer.
4、 Risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection
Although anyone can be infected with Helicobacter pylori, the following factors may increase the risk of infection:
Close contact with infected individuals: The risk of bacterial infection increases when in close contact with someone who has already been infected with Helicobacter pylori, such as in the home, school, daycare, and medical institutions.
Low hygiene level: Factors such as poor living environment hygiene, irregular diet, or drinking unclean water sources may increase the probability of infection.
Age: Helicobacter pylori infection can occur at any age, but it is more common in children and the elderly.
Living conditions: People living in crowded, unsanitary environments or in underdeveloped areas are more susceptible to Helicobacter pylori infection.
Immune system status: People with weakened immune systems, such as HIV infected individuals or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, have an increased risk of contracting Helicobacter pylori.
5、 Helicobacter pylori infection often leads to the following diseases:
Chronic gastritis: Helicobacter pylori infection can cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa, leading to damage to gastric mucosal cells. Long term chronic gastritis may lead to gastric mucosal atrophy and functional impairment.
Gastric ulcer: Gastric ulcer is one of the common consequences of Helicobacter pylori infection. After being infected with Helicobacter pylori, it will settle in the gastric mucosa and corrode the gastric wall through some secretions and products, leading to ulcer formation.
Gastric cancer: Helicobacter pylori infection is also associated with the occurrence of gastric cancer. After being infected with Helicobacter pylori for many years, the risk of developing stomach cancer increases in some people. This may be due to chronic inflammation and cell damage caused by long-term infection, leading to abnormal changes in gastric mucosal epithelial cells and ultimately developing into cancer cells.
6、 How to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection in daily life
Maintain good personal hygiene habits: wash hands frequently, especially after coming into contact with food, utensils, and places with high risk of infection.
Avoid sharing personal utensils such as tableware, cups, toothbrushes, etc. with infected individuals.
Avoid consuming raw or undercooked food, especially meat, seafood, and eggs. Boiled food can effectively kill Helicobacter pylori.
Avoid consuming raw water, especially untreated water sources. Drinking bottled water or filtered, boiled water is a safer option.
Reduce alcohol consumption and quit smoking, as both may increase the risk of contracting Helicobacter pylori.
Pay attention to food hygiene, ensure good hygiene conditions for food storage and processing, and avoid food contamination.
Finally, do not panic when infected with Helicobacter pylori, seek professional help, and do not take medication on your own to avoid delaying the condition. We must achieve early diagnosis, early treatment, and early recovery.