Commonest cause of peptic ulcer disease: September 2006, March 2013(a)

Ans. C. H.pylori It is now widely accepted that infection with H. pylori is the most impoant factor in the development of peptic ulceration followed by NSAID ingestion. Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that can inhabit various areas of the stomach and duodenum. It causes a chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. Over 80% of individuals infected with the bacterium are asymptomatic. The most reliable method for detecting H. pylori infection is a biopsy check during endoscopy with a rapid urease test, histological examination, and microbial culture. The standard first-line therapy is a one week "triple therapy"