The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is a widespread pathogen in the stomach of a part of the population and it could have devastating effects: 15.6 million people born between 2008 and 2017 are likely to develop stomach cancer during their life because of this infection, according to a study published in the prestigious Revue Nature Medicine on July 7. This cancer could however be avoided, treating the bacillus.
The bacteria gets caught from childhood via saliva, “essentially in the first five years of life,” said the High Authority for Health (HAS). Contamination causes chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa which, if not treated, can cause ulcers or evolve towards cancer. 90 % of stomach cancers are thus associated with Helicobacter pyloribut only 1 % of bearers will effectively develop cancer, due to associated genetic, food or environmental factors.
Improve screening
The prevalence of the bacteria varies strongly according to the region of the world. According to the study, Asia would concentrate two thirds of the expected cases, before the Americas and Africa. In Europe, the incidence could amount to 900,800 cases among people born between 2008 and 2017.
The authors point out that screening and treatment strategies could avoid up to three -quarters of future cancers. “It is essential that health authorities prevention of gastric cancer a priority, and accelerate efforts to control it by planning pilot projects, including screening and processing programs Helicobacter pylori », Insists Dr. Jin Young Park, co-author of the study.
Especially since a treatment exists. An association of antibiotics and an inhibitor, taken over around two weeks, eliminates the bacteria in 80 to 90 % of cases.
In France, where around 30 % of the population carries the bacteria, no generalized screening strategy is still in place. Conversely, Japan offers targeted preventive action from 40 years. A strategy that bears these fruits but has a cost.