Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among Iraqi Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sahar Kareem  Raheem; Zeena Ismail  Abdullah; Dhabya Ihsan Abdulrazzaq  Al-Samarraie; Ali Qais  Abdulkafi; Aws Ali  Qais

Sahar Kareem Raheem Al-Farahidi University College of Medical Technicians, Anastasia Department, Baghdad, Iraq
Zeena Ismail Abdullah Al-Farahidi University College of Medical Technicians, Anastasia Department, Baghdad, Iraq
Dhabya Ihsan Abdulrazzaq Al-Samarraie Al-Farahidi University College of Medical Technicians, Anastasia Department, Baghdad, Iraq
Ali Qais Abdulkafi Kirkuk Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk Health Directorate, Iraqi Ministry of Health, Kirkuk, Iraq
Aws Ali Qais University of Al-Ameed, College of Medicine, Karbala, Iraq

Keywords: helicobacter pylori, post-treatment complications, antibiotic resistance, gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life questionnaire.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a significant cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Despite the very effective treatment regimens currently used, patients frequently develop many post-treatment complications that adversely affect their quality of life. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and pattern of post-treatment complications following H pylori eradication therapy and their impact on patient outcomes. A group of 83 H. pylori infection patients were subjected to routine quadruple therapy for eradication at Baghdad – Iraq hospitals within (March 2024 – March 2025), where the patients were observed for 12 weeks by questionnaires on gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of life and any side effects after treatment, where these data were processed with statistical computer software to establish the frequency and nature of complications encountered. Among the patients, 35% presented gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain after treatment, where 20% of them presented anxiety caused by chronic dyspepsia, which H. pylori reoccurrence occurred in 10% of the cases when followed up, as well as the study revealed that antibiotic resistance was highly associated with symptom persistence, reflecting an interaction of a complicated nature between treatment efficacy and post-treatment complications. Post-treatment complications after H. pylori eradication treatment are frequent and can severely affect the quality of life in patients, where ongoing monitoring and supportive management are needed for these complications.

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