Bacteria Infection,major cause of Ulcers-study

Researchers have said that a bacteria,
Helicobacter Pylori bacterium, may be
responsible for 80 per cent of stomach
ulcers among Nigerians.

The researchers, in a study carried out by
Biofem Pharmaceutical Group, stated that H.
Pylori,
a bacterium in the digestive tract
could also cause gastric ulcers and increase
resistant to treatment.

The lead researcher, a pharmacist, Mr.
Adeolu Demehin, noted that this bacteria, H.
Pylori, whose mode of transmission is
fecal-oral (from feaces to mouth) and oral-
oral (mouth to mouth through the saliva),
could be deadly when detected late.

Demehin said, "Contrary to what most
people believe, H. Pylori, a bacteria is the
culpable organism for 90 per cent of peptic
ulcer and 80 per cent of gastric ulcers in
majority of the patients in hospitals in
Nigeria."

According to him, this infection could lead
to gastric cancer and other digestive
diseases.

"In order to prevent such irreversible
outcome, we must find a way to detect it in
that
patient that is always presenting with
stomach pains and cramps, whether he or
she may just be infected with H. Pylori."
Demehin stated that adherence to good
oral and personal hygiene could prevent
being infected with the bacteria.

Also, the Managing Director, Biofem Group,
Mr. Femi Soremekun, said most cases of
ulcers were often misdiagnosed because
many health care providers lacked the
facilities for the standard detection and
treatment of the disease.

Soremekun said, "The research also
showed that ulcer is a huge problem in this
clime because the care providers who treat
patients on a daily basis, don't detect the
actual problem. So they would not know
what they really need in terms of
treatment."

"Meanwhile, there is a machine, Heliprobe,
which uses a non-invasive technique of
identifying H. Pylori infection in the clinic
and the result is ready in about 15
minutes."

Shoremekun noted that most secondary
and primary health care facilities did not
have this advanced machine, hence, the
increased cases of misdiagnosis. He called
on hospital owners to ensure that patients
were not exploited by providing quality
services.

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