Can we get infected by eating with someone who has a stomach disease, for example by dipping food in fish sauce or using the same chopsticks? (Mai, 29 years old, Hanoi).
Reply:
The most common cause of stomach disease is HP bacteria, with 70-80% of the population having HP bacteria in their stomach. This bacteria causes stomach and duodenal ulcers and is a risk factor for stomach cancer. HP enters the human body in three ways: from animals to humans, from environmental pollution, especially water sources, and from person to person.
HP can be transmitted through saliva, so sharing chopsticks and bowls is completely risky. This is also the most common way of infection for this bacteria. In addition, sharing a plate of spices can also cause HP infection.
Other ways are sharing toothbrushes, drinking glasses or through close contact such as kissing or talking that causes saliva to be sprayed. In case of using medical instruments that are not cleaned and disinfected properly during examination and have contact with the patient's mouth, the disease can also be transmitted.
According to statistics, about 1% of patients infected with HP bacteria are at risk of stomach cancer. Patients infected with HP bacteria who develop stomach pain often have some symptoms such as belching, frequent abdominal pain, frequent feeling of fullness, bloating, nausea...
To detect the presence of HP bacteria, the suspect needs a blood test, stool test, breath test or biopsy.
Doctor Ha Hai Nam - Deputy Head of Abdominal Surgery Department 1, K Hospital (Hanoi)
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