From the Guidelines
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with symptoms of fullness, including early satiety or postprandial fullness, which can be caused by the bacteria damaging the stomach lining and disrupting normal stomach function, as stated in the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of functional dyspepsia 1. The symptoms of H. pylori infection related to fullness include:
- Feeling abnormally full-up early on in a meal
- Experiencing a heaviness in the abdomen that may be worse after eating
- Early satiety or postprandial fullness
- Burning stomach pain
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Frequent burping These symptoms can be caused by the infection slowing gastric emptying, making the patient feel uncomfortably full even after eating small amounts of food. According to the guidelines, patients with functional dyspepsia, which includes symptoms of fullness, should be offered a stool test or breath test to look for H. pylori infection, and if the test is positive, they should receive a short course of antibiotic treatment to see if their symptoms improve 1. It is also important to note that some patients with H. pylori infection may not respond to antibiotic treatment, and may require other medications to treat their symptoms, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or prokinetic agents, as recommended in the guidelines 1. In terms of treatment, the guidelines recommend that patients with H. pylori infection should receive a short course of antibiotic treatment, and that patients who test negative or whose symptoms continue after antibiotics should be offered other medications to treat their symptoms, such as PPIs or prokinetic agents 1. Overall, the symptoms of H. pylori infection related to fullness can be effectively managed with antibiotic treatment and other medications, and it is essential to seek medical evaluation if symptoms persist, as stated in the guidelines 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection
- The provided studies do not directly address the symptoms of H. pylori infection related to fullness 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, some studies mention symptoms associated with H. pylori infection, such as dyspepsia 4, heartburns, epigastric pain, and vomiting 6.
- There is no specific information on fullness as a symptom of H. pylori infection in the provided studies.
Diagnostic Tests for H. pylori Infection
- Various diagnostic tests are available for H. pylori infection, including invasive tests like endoscopy and biopsy, and non-invasive tests like urea breath test, serology, and stool antigen test 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The choice of test depends on the pre-test probability of infection, test characteristics, and cost-effectiveness 2.
- The urea breath test and stool antigen test are considered accurate non-invasive tests for diagnosing H. pylori infection 3, 4, 5, 6.