[Question #6038] Q5987 final follow-up - H Pylori

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71 months ago
Dear Drs Hook,

Thank you very much again for your responses - very sorry I just had one final follow up on Q5987.

I mentioned my girlfriend who visited my family relatives for a day-visit last year (including my 5yr+ old cousins) is from a remote village in Thailand. So I meant to check about the risk of transmitting H Pylori? Given this is common in developing countries.

I realise H Pylori is not an STD however I’m worried about this, so wanted to ask you in your capacity/expertise as infectious disease specialists. So my questions are:

1. I.e. so am I correct in thinking the risk of transmission to children (my 5yrs+ old cousins) and also adults from my girlfriend (assuming she was infected) of H Pylori from a single 1-2 day visit to my cousins’ house would be low, ie over 1 in 1.000? This again just involves normal contact between my girlfriend and my cousins (5yrs+ old in age) including playfighting etc, and normal interaction with other adults. I know people who do get infected usually get H Pylori in childhood, but I think the odds must be low otherwise the majority of children in developed countries such as the US would become infected.

2. Am I correct the risk of H Pylori from my gf to my parents and sister of living with them for 1-2 months would be very low (ie <1 in 1000 overall), given that H Pylori is very rarely transmitted directly between adults? My parents and sister were all 18+ yrs old during this time.

3. I’m right that again that there are no medical conditions or medications (including DCD or Crohn’s disease, lung/asthma disease/oral and inhaled steroids/bronchiectasis  and blood clotting disorders etc) wouldn’t impact your answer to Q1 & Q2 above?

Thank you so much Dr.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
71 months ago
I am sorry.  Our site is dedicated to provision of expert advise related to sexually transmitted infections, our areas of expertise.  H. pylori is not an STI. Thus I have nothing to offer on this topic and plan to close the thread shortly.  Please remember, you have ben warned that repetitive, anxiety-driven questions may not be answered and administratively closed without return of your posting fees.  This post falls into that realm.  EWH---