Helicobacterpylori (H.pylori) is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach. The bacterium has a unique way of adapting to the hostile environment of the stomach.

The inside of the stomach is composed of gastric juices - digestive enzymes and concentrated hydrochloric acid. These are important for optimal digestive conditions and for elimination of swallowed living microorganisms.

Before the discovery of H.pylori, the stomach was thought to be sterile containing no bacteria and peptic ulcer disese was thought to be caused by "Hurry,Curry,Woory." The discovery of this bacterium has changed the concept and treatment of ulcer disease dramatically.

Helico bacter pylori has been found to produce a lot of problems in GI Tract. It can cause Duodenal Ulcer Dyspepsia, Malt lymphomas and even Cancer of Stomach. Recently WHO has classified H.Pylori as a Class I Carcinogen known to cause Cancer of theStomach.

H.pylori is usually transmitted by only two routes 1. Oral - Oral route by kissing etc., which is common only in western population. There H.Pylori will be living in dental caries and plaques and is secreted in saliva 2. Feco oral route - by unprotected contaminated drinking water system.

H.pylori can be detected either by a blood test to look for antibodies against this bacterium or the patient has to undergo an endoscopy with biopsies, an endoscopy to look for H.pylori by Rapid Urease Test.

Dr.Mohan Prasad is the first doctor in South India to start endoscopic detection of H.pylori since 1990 (H.pylori organism was discovered i Australia in 1988.)

Even though there are many methods to detect H.pylori, Urea Breath Test is the most accurate non invasive test for diagnosing H.pylori infection.

Patients are given a capsule containing urea solution labelled with Radioactive 14C to dring. Urease produced by the bacteria in the stomach, breaks down this urea to release Carbondioxide which is absorbed into the blood stream and exhaled through lungs in the breath.

Analysing the levels of carbon in the collected breath by the scintillator in this device determines whether H.pylori bacteria is present or absent.

Heliprobe is the most important accessory which adds to the effectiveness and convince of an Upper Gastrointestinal fiberoptic endoscopy.

Urea Breath Tests are 99% accurate for diagnosing the bacteria and are particularly suitable for patients who are not willing foa an endoscopy andf those who canot undergo endoscopy with biopsy. Fasting (usually 6 hours) before this test is required.