A silent but dangerous bacterial infection is sweeping through Nigeria with a prevalence of 85 to 87 percent, yet only few are aware of its risks, the director of Research and Professor of Microbiology at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Stella Ifeanyi Smith revealed.
H. pylori refers to a type of bacterium that infects the stomach lining. It is a major cause of gastritis (stomach inflammation), peptic ulcers (sores in the stomach or small intestine), and even gastric cancer in some cases.
With the alarming prevalence rate, far above the global average of 43 percent, H. pylori is silently infecting millions, yet receives little attention or funding compared to diseases like Ebola and COVID-19.
Smith, while speaking with journalists, in Lagos, on Tuesday, emphasized the urgent need for greater awareness, better diagnostic methods, and improved treatment adherence to combat antimicrobial resistance.
“H. pylori is a bacterial infection that can be treated and cured with antibiotics. However, treatment requires two antibiotics over 10 to 14 days. However, resistance could occur when patients stop taking their medication too soon,” she explained.
Her seven-year study, funded by the German Research Foundation, revealed that 95 percent of H. pylori cases were resistant to metronidazole (Flagyl)—a commonly used antibiotic. Unlike viruses that spread rapidly through inhalation, H. pylori is often acquired in childhood, with studies showing up to 80 percent of Nigerian children under 10 testing positive. Yet, the long-term impact remains underestimated.
While only one to three percent of infected individuals develop gastric cancer, Smith’s team discovered cases in Nigerians under 30 years old, a troubling trend given that gastric cancer typically appears in older adults. “In Ife, we found people in their 30s with gastric cancer linked to H. pylori. This shows we cannot afford to ignore it,” she revealed.
To address this crisis, Smith founded the African Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group, which established the African Helicobacter Pylori Registry. This initiative tracks treatment effectiveness across Africa, ensuring patients are properly diagnosed and monitored post-treatment to prevent resistance.
Smith stressed that sustained funding and physician education are critical in curbing the spread of H. pylori and reducing its deadly complications. “With proper awareness and treatment adherence, we can drastically cut down on gastric cancer cases linked to this infection,” she stated.
She urged policymakers, researchers, and healthcare professionals to recognize H. pylori as a public health priority, advocating for widespread screening, improved treatment guidelines, and increased funding for research and patient care. “People think H. pylori is harmless, but it silently wreaks havoc over time. It’s time to take it seriously,” she warned.
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