Can I drink coffee during the treatment for Helicobacter pylori?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 13, 2025
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It is not recommended to drink coffee during the treatment for Helicobacter pylori.

During the treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, it is advised to consume more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, maintain regular meals, and eat light, easily digestible foods. Avoid strong alcohol, strong tea, coffee, and also greasy foods. The main methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection are the carbon-13 urea breath test or the carbon-14 urea breath test. If the test results are positive, a standard eradication treatment using a bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for two weeks should be implemented. Additionally, a re-examination is needed one month after discontinuing the medication to confirm whether the eradication is complete.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Can Helicobacter pylori infection heal itself?

Helicobacter pylori infection generally does not heal on its own. Currently, the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in our country has exceeded 50%, which is very high. After being infected with Helicobacter pylori, most patients do not show any symptoms. However, some patients may develop chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and even stomach cancer due to Helicobacter pylori infection, presenting symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. These patients need to undergo gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Additionally, eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required, involving a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics, along with a bismuth agent, totaling 14 days of treatment. If eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is not conducted, Helicobacter pylori will not heal on its own.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Can Helicobacter pylori cure itself?

Can Helicobacter pylori be self-healing? Helicobacter pylori is very stubborn; once infected, adults who do not undergo formal therapeutic interventions will be afflicted for life, meaning the cure rate is close to zero. Children, whose immune functions are not yet fully developed, may experience multiple exposures on the gastric mucosa and short-term colonization before Helicobacter pylori settles permanently, which could potentially lead to either colonization or loss of the bacteria. White populations have stronger immune resistance than colored populations. Tracking reports indicate that 50% of white children may lose the infection after contracting it, while only 4% of black children might. Generally, the infection rate is higher than the self-healing rate, indicating that Helicobacter pylori infections in adults are generally not self-resolving.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
1min home-news-image

Can a gastroscopy detect Helicobacter pylori?

Since Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacterium, it cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, current research indicates that Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with certain mucosal appearances under endoscopy. Therefore, endoscopists can infer the presence of an infection based on certain mucosal appearances observed during the procedure. However, if the only purpose is to test for Helicobacter pylori infection without needing a gastroscopy, then we can opt for non-invasive methods such as the carbon-13 urea breath test, carbon-14 urea breath test, stool antigen test, and serological antibody tests, which are commonly used methods of testing. Moreover, after treatment for Helicobacter pylori, it is recommended to use either the carbon-13 or carbon-14 urea breath test for examination.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Which department checks for Helicobacter pylori?

Current research suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection is the primary cause of various gastric diseases. It is best to visit the gastroenterology department of a hospital to check for Helicobacter pylori, where a Carbon-14 breath test can be conducted to determine the amount of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach. If there is a high quantity of bacteria, or if there are gastrointestinal diseases present, one might consider a treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. This generally involves the use of two types of antibiotics along with a gastric mucosal protector or a medication that inhibits stomach acid secretion. It is also important to regularly follow up, maintain a regular diet, and avoid spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Is the treatment process for Helicobacter pylori uncomfortable?

The treatment process for Helicobacter pylori infection is not uncomfortable, primarily involving oral medication. Treatment options include a combination of two antibiotics such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin, furazolidone, metronidazole, etc., alongside a proton pump inhibitor like omeprazole, pantoprazole, or lansoprazole, and the addition of bismuth citrate. This forms a quadruple therapy administered over two weeks to eradicate the infection. During treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, it is advised to consume a diet rich in vitamins, incorporating fresh vegetables and fruits. It is important to eat regularly, avoid overeating or consuming oily, spicy, and irritating foods. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)