Helicobacter Forums

I'll be going to Japan in a few months time, and once the 'situation' is over i'll be heading to south east asia. I am told these Asian countries have a high prevelence of H.pylori.

I'll be dating, eating out, etc - how can i avoid catching this horrendous bacteria again ?

1) If i date a girl and she has the bacteria, am i to avoid kissing? What about anything else sexual?

2) We love eating at food markets, the food is sometimes spectacular, but also comes with risks i suppose.

3) What about water supplies?

I don't get how i can not catch it again if nearly 50% of the people i will encounter have it.

I have visited China and many south East Asia countries at least 4 times every year. I too enjoyed the local food. But I never catch H. pylori there. It is not how H. pylori is transmitted.

H. pylori is sensitive to the spice and doesnt survive well outside human body.

To avoid catching it from your girl friend,
1. get her treated, so you dont have to worry any more.
2. both of you must at least keep the oral hygienic. brush teeth in the morning. We have married couple that never infect each other for decades. I believe it is due to good oral hygiene.
3. H. pylori is not a STD.
4. You can enjoy whatever food and water locally. But you need to know H. pylori is not the only pathogen you should be worried about. There are many other nastier pathogen like Salmonella, Vibrio, Shigella, Campylobacter, Hepatitis virus, etc..