TREATING NON-ULCER HYPERACIDITY

Report #6778 4/7/96

More than 85% of all stomach and intestinal ulcers are caused by a bacteria called helicobacter. Most gastroenterologists will not use antibiotics to treat that bacteria unless the patient also has an ulcer. An article in the American Journal of Gastroenterology shows that they may be wrong.

The symptoms of having too much stomach acid are belching, a burning pain in the chest or abdomen and a sour taste in the mouth. Having too much acid can cause an ulcer in the stomach or it can cause these same symptoms without a visible erosion in the stomach lining. Fifteen years ago, Dr. Barry Marshall showed that the vast majority of stomach ulcers are caused by a single bacteria called helicobacter which can be cured by taking antibiotics for one week. However, many gastroenterologists insist on placing a tube down the mouth and into the stomach and they won't prescribe antibiotics unless they see an ulcer. This implies that helicobacter causes belching and burning, only after it has burned a hole in the stomach. Getting an x ray of the stomach costs only one eight as much as having the tube placed into the stomach and a blood tests is more dependable than a biopsy in diagnosing helicobacter. If you have belching and burning in your stomach, check with your doctor who will probably prescribe an upper GI series x ray and order a blood test for helicobacter. If it is positive, you can probably be cured with a safe, inexpensive, effective one week course of antibiotics.

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News