Protecting Yourself from H. Pylori Infection
Avoiding exposure to Helicobacter pylori begins with understanding how it spreads. This is a bacterium that lives in the stomach and can be passed from person to another. It is mainly found in saliva, dental plaque, and faeces. H. Pylori infection often occurs when hands are not properly washed after using the toilet and bacteria are transferred to food, water, or surfaces. It has also been detected in untreated drinking water, sewage, and on vegetables grown in contaminated soil, making hygiene and safe water crucial.
H. pylori can cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and increase the risk of stomach cancer, while also interfering with absorption of iron and vitamin B12.

To avoid exposure, one should do the following:
• Thoroughly wash their hands with soap after toileting and before meals is essential.
• Drink boiled or treated water.
• Keep food preparation areas, and utensils clean, more so, areas where fast foods are made e.g., chapatis, samosa, mandazi, kikomando etc.
• Avoiding sharing utensils such as reduce household transmission for example sharing the same cups, folks and spoons with an infected person.
• Washing fruits and vegetables under clean running water.
• Fruits and vegetables can be peeled and for vegetables cooked to make them safer for consumption.
• Limiting intake of gut irritants such as narcotics and alcohol lowers the risk of creating a “friendly environment” for the bacteria.
Foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits and leafy vegetables, together with antioxidant-packed sources of vitamin E like nuts and seeds, and plant-based polyphenols found in berries, apples, garlic, onions, and sukuma wiki, help protect the stomach lining, calm inflammation, and may even directly hinder the growth of H. pylori bacteria.
Public health measures such as safe sanitation systems and proper wastewater management help limit contamination of water supplies.
However, if you develop symptoms such as burning stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, bloating, nausea or bloody vomiting, indigestion, burping, loss of appetite, or early satiety, health practitioner can confirm H. pylori through blood, stool, breath tests, or endoscopy. If positive, treatment should include medical nutrition therapy coordinated by both a physician and a personal dietitian to support healing and reduce complications.

Sentongo Patrick,
Dietitian, Impact Nutrition Company, Uganda ( T/A Lya Dietitian App)
patricksentongo@outlook.com

References

• Öztekin M., Yılmaz B., Ağagündüz D., Capasso R. Overview of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Clinical Features, Treatment, and
Nutritional Aspects. Diseases 2021;9:66.
• World Health Organization. Helicobacter pylori: background document for the WHO Guidelines for drinking-water quality and
the WHO Guidelines on sanitation and health. Geneva: WHO; 2025.