No one knows how the bacteria gets there or how it is spread. There is no evidence that it is spread through routine contact so there is no known reason to isolate people with H. pylori from others. It also can cause gastritis, an irritation of the lining of the stomach. The majority of the people infected with H. pylori have no symptoms and are un-likely to develop a serious medical problem from that infection. Anyone with symptoms of ulcers, heartburn, or GERD should talk to their doctor about the need for testing for H. pylori.
Treatment requires using multiple medications at the same time.
This is called combination therapy. Generally two of the medicines are antibiotics and the third is bismuth that is found in Pepto-Bismol. The medicines are generally safe. You should ask your doctor about the specific side effects of the treatment and also ask about any problems with this treatment and other medicines that you might take. The most important aspect of treatment of any disorder is to follow your physician s instructions and complete all of the medication.