The bacteria “Helicobacter pylori” soon responsible for millions of stomach cancers?

It is a figure that is cold in the back. Furthermore, According to a study by the very serious review Nature Medicinerelayed by The Parisian et Le Figarosome 15 million. However, stomach cancer could be diagnosed in the coming years due to the bacteria Helicobacter pyloria pathogen that would carry around half of the world’s population. Nevertheless, These cancer cases – estimated at around 73,000 in France – would concern people born between 2008 and 2017.

90% of stomach cancers are associated with this bacteria “helicobacter pylori” soon responsible bacteria

This bacteria. In addition, by colonizing the gastric mucosa, is likely to cause ulcers which can, in some cases, turn into cancer. However, On the other hand, it will be asymptomatic if it does not develop any infection. She gets caught through saliva from childhood. “mainly in the first five years of life,” said the High Authority for Health. Approximately 90% of diagnosed stomach cancers are associated with Helicobacter pylori But only 1% of individuals with the bacteria. will develop cancer in their lifetime.

According to the study, two-thirds of cases will be concentrated in Asia, in particular in China and India, with 10.6 million cases expected, followed by America and Africa. “Historically. the Asian continent has always experienced larger infection rates,” said Dr Young Park, epidemiologist at the Center for Research on Cancer (CIR) and co-author of the study, cited by Le Figaro. In Europe, just over bacteria “helicobacter pylori” soon responsible 900,000 people could be affected among these people born between 2008 and 2017.

Too few prevention programs

Nevertheless. it is quite possible to identify this bacteria in time and prevent it from evolving towards cancer. According to study authors, an effective screening and processing strategy could reduce the expected number of gastric cancer by 75%. But efforts must still be provided, especially by the countries most affected by infection. “In Asia. the main contributor to the current burden of gastric cancer in the world, few countries have implemented prevention programs,” read the study.

It is even even worse in Africa where “no prevention program for gastric cancer is available”. It is therefore “essential that the health authorities make the prevention of gastric cancer a priority. and accelerate efforts to control it by bacteria “helicobacter pylori” soon responsible planning pilot projects, including screening and processing programs Helicobacter pylori“, insist the authors. However, Japan is a good student with a test systematically offered to people over 40 years of age.

Especially since solutions exist to diagnose the disease: gastroscopies. biopsies, analysis of breathing and stools, fibroscopy of the stomach etc … The affection is curable in at least 80% of cases thanks to a combination of antibiotics. inhibitors that reduce the production of gastric acid.