Testing Positive For H. Pylori Does Not Mean You Have Ulcer: Here's Why

Day 11 of 100 Days of Random Learning. Today I learnt that testing positive for H. pylori does not mean you have an ulcer. Most of us do this. Stomach ache, heartburn, discomfort when we're hungry, and we immediately say ulcer. Then we run a lab test, see H. pylori, and go straight to treating ulcer. But H. pylori is a cause, not the ulcer itself. Global prevalence is around 48%, and in Nigeria it's estimated at about 87%. Of everyone who carries it, only around 10 to 20% ever develop a peptic ulcer. Most people carry it with no ulcer at all. There are also separate conditions people confuse with ulcer. Reflux, where acid flows back up into your oesophagus. Gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining. And an actual ulcer, which is an open sore that has eaten through the protective lining. They all happen in the same area, so the symptoms overlap, which is why every small thing gets called ulcer. Doctors do treat H. pylori when they find it, and there's a real reason for that. It's classified by the WHO as a Group 1 carcinogen and the biggest known risk factor for stomach cancer. So treating it is right. Calling it ulcer is what's wrong. This video is general information and not medical advice. Please see a doctor for diagnosis. Chest discomfort and breathing difficulty in particular should never be self-diagnosed as ulcer. New video every day for 100 days. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.