Gastric Ulcer Helicobacter Pylori pin-prick blood test (No invasive phlebotomy needed!)
Gastric Ulcers

What is Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a cork-screw shaped bacterium that lives in the mucus coating the lining of the stomach and duodenum. It can irritate the lining of the stomach causing inflammation and is a major causative factor in stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer and other forms of gastritis. H.pylori infections are believed to be caused by swallowing bacteria in food or liquids, or from unclean utensils. It can also pass from one person to the next and, therefore, the partner of the person infected by H.pylori should consider being tested.

What are the symptoms?
Some H.pylori infections are 'silent' and produce no symptoms, but when the bacteria do cause symptoms they are usually of gastritis or stomach ulcers. Typical symptoms of gastritis include vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Stomach ulcers are very similar to mouth ulcers where r