The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in China is nearly 50%! Who are susceptible to infection? How to prevent it? Helicobacter pylori population
The Institute of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other units have released the white paper "Prevention and Control of Helicobacter pylori Infection in China" today, which systematically introduces the diseases and disease burden related to Helicobacter pylori infection, as well as the epidemic situation in China, and proposes response strategies and suggestions. The white paper points out that the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori among the population in China is nearly 50%, with infection rates ranging from 35.4% to 66.4% among different populations. So, what is Helicobacter pylori? What is its relationship with stomach cancer? Which people are at high risk of contracting Helicobacter pylori? Is it necessary to treat Helicobacter pylori infection?
What is Helicobacter pylori?
Firstly, what is Helicobacter pylori? What are the current intervention measures in China for Helicobacter pylori? The white paper "Prevention and Control of Helicobacter pylori Infection in China" released today provides a detailed introduction.
The white paper points out that Helicobacter pylori is a pathogenic bacterium associated with various major chronic diseases and has infectivity. The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori varies greatly in different regions and populations. Related to socio-economic and hygiene conditions, dietary habits are closely related to the occurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori among the population in China is nearly 50%, with infection rates ranging from 35.4% to 66.4% among different populations. The infection rate in rural areas is higher than that in cities, and the infection rate in adults is higher than that in children. Helicobacter pylori has the characteristics of high infection rate, heavy disease burden, and high drug resistance in the population. It can cause various gastrointestinal and internal and external diseases, including chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. In severe cases, it can lead to gastric cancer.
In response to the current situation of Helicobacter pylori infection and prevention in China, the white paper proposes that in addition to focusing on the diagnosis and eradication treatment of infected individuals and their family members, population intervention strategies are the most effective strategy to reduce the overall burden of Helicobacter pylori infection, which can reduce the risk of gastric cancer by 43% to 52%.
Zhang Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Our main intervention measures now mainly focus on individual intervention for infected individuals and intervention on a family basis. We mentioned in the white paper that in the process of gastric cancer intervention, we can not only pay attention to the families or individuals of the population, but also promote the first intervention in countries with high incidence of gastric cancer. Because in the high incidence areas of gastric cancer, the burden of gastric cancer caused by Helicobacter pylori infection basically accounts for more than 70% of gastric cancer cases. If we intervene in Helicobacter pylori, we can greatly reduce the incidence rate of gastric cancer in the Chinese population.
What is the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer?
Intervention of Helicobacter pylori can reduce the incidence rate of gastric cancer. So, how much is the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer? Experts provided answers ↓
Professor Hu Fulian from the Department of Gastroenterology at Peking University First Hospital: There is definitely a close relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer. Gastric cancer is the result of a combination of multiple factors, but Helicobacter pylori is a major factor. Therefore, the World Health Organization has designated Helicobacter pylori as the leading pathogenic factor causing gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori can cause a series of clinical diseases, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric cancer, MALT lymphoma, and so on.
What are the high-risk groups for Helicobacter pylori infection?
According to disease control experts, the transmission routes of Helicobacter pylori mainly include "oral" transmission and "fecal oral" transmission. Water source, foodborne, and iatrogenic transmission have also received attention, and humans are generally susceptible to Helicobacter pylori. So, what are the high-risk groups for Helicobacter pylori infection? The disease control experts provided answers ↓
Zhang Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Institute of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention: If there is no positive person for Helicobacter pylori in a family member, the relative risk is low. If one or more people in his family are now positive, he can be used as a source of infection, and may become a more high-risk group than other families. The concept of high-risk groups like this is relative, because we know that among adults, only about one person out of 100 may be newly infected with Helicobacter pylori per year. However, once infected, the characteristic is that it will not recover on its own and will be infected for a long time. For example, those who are infected in their teens can become infected by the age of seventy or eighty, and continue to do so for decades. So now it seems that nearly half of our population is infected with the virus, he is the source of infection, and the other half can be infected. Even if you are in a family without a positive test result, you may still be infected in your external life.
What should I do if I suspect I am infected with Helicobacter pylori?
Experts also point out that most people may not have obvious clinical symptoms after being infected with Helicobacter pylori. What should I do if I suspect that I am infected with Helicobacter pylori?
Professor Hu Fulian from the Department of Gastroenterology at Peking University First Hospital: In short, go and do a breath test. After blowing for half an hour, if you have a Helicobacter pylori infection or if you don't, the results will be given to you immediately. If you find Helicobacter pylori infection and obvious digestive symptoms, it is recommended to not only check for Helicobacter pylori and treat it, but also undergo a gastroscopy, which is better. If you have never had a check-up before, you should have a health check, and it should also be done to prevent or significantly reduce the incidence of gastric cancer. This is called primary prevention and is very important.
Can Helicobacter pylori be eradicated?
Some people are concerned about whether to treat Helicobacter pylori infection once detected? If treated, can it be cured?
Experts say that Helicobacter pylori can first be eradicated, and clinical drug treatment is the main means. The white paper suggests that in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, attention should be paid to balancing factors, such as health status, age, etc., which are sufficient to compete with the benefits of Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. The eradication treatment should follow the principle of "detection treatment". Once Helicobacter pylori infection is detected, if there are no countervailing factors, eradication treatment should be encouraged. Infected individuals with a family history of gastric cancer and other high-risk factors are strongly recommended for eradication treatment. For infected individuals with resistance factors, diagnosis should be made by clinical experts based on the benefits and potential problems brought about by eradication treatment.
How to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection?
According to experts, family transmission is an important pathway for new and recurrent infections of Helicobacter pylori, and common infection routes among family members include sharing utensils. So, how should we prevent Helicobacter pylori infection in daily life?
In this regard, the white paper suggests that individuals are the first responsible person for preventing and reducing the harm of Helicobacter pylori infection, and ensuring physical health. Individuals should develop good hygiene habits, especially the habit of eating with public spoons and chopsticks. In addition, the government should strengthen the scientific popularization of the hazards of Helicobacter pylori infection, especially by incorporating it into the national preschool children's habit development and primary and secondary school health management classroom. By improving personal hygiene and health literacy, the risk of Helicobacter pylori transmission can be effectively reduced. In short, we don't need to panic excessively about Helicobacter pylori, but we need to take it seriously and work together to prevent and control it.
