When to Diagnose and Treat Helicobacter pylori?

It has been reported that approximately half of the global population is affected by H. pylori with regional variations. Despite the high infection rate reported in numerous studies worldwide, a significant proportion of infected individuals will remain asymptomatic. Nevertheless, it is widely recognized that Helicobacter pylori is linked to the development of various gastroduodenal diseases, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This chapter provides an overview of the fundamental mechanisms of H. pylori infection, the diseases associated with H. pylori, and the optimal timing for the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori.