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What are the tests to confirm an infection of the stomach?
I am suffering from severe acidity and acid reflux. Could it be due to a stomach infection? What are the tests to confirm the same?
4 Answers
The gastrointestinal pathogen panel is a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test capable of rapidly and quantitively detecting DNA or RNA of 22 pathogens (13 bacteria, 5 viruses, and 4 parasites). Thank you.
Acid peptic diseases (severe acidity/Reflux) are often associated with a bacteria called H. pylori. A number of tests are available to detect the presence, you can do a stool test for H. pylori antigen, a Urea breath test can be done on a fasting breath sample after drinking a liquid (citric acid), or a blood test to see antibodies levels against H. Pylori.
Most cases of severe acidity or acid reflux are not due to an infection. There is one exception to that which is a bacterial infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. There is a blood, breath, and stool test available to test for H. pylori. Also, a biopsy of the stomach can be examined and tested for H. pylori.
Farid S. Zaer
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Preventative Medicine Specialist | Preventive Medicine/Occupational Environmental Medicine
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Redcliffe, Queensland
The most common stomach infection is Helicobater pylori, a spiral bacteria that lives in the high gastric pH. It can be detected by a BREATH test, or by testing it in faeces called an antigen detection test. These are simple methods that are cost effective, useful and treatable. A more fancy method is getting an upper GI endoscopy to have this confirmed with biopsies.