Seasonal Pattern of Helicobacter Pylori Infection

In short: Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach lining and can cause pain, nausea and more serious problems. One notable factor is its seasonality — infections rise in winter. In winter it pays to watch for symptoms and, if needed, test at home or see a doctor.

Helicobacter pylori season

In December and January there is a significant increase in the percentage of people infected with Helicobacter pylori compared with the summer months. This increase is also associated with a rise in the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulcers and other co-morbidities.

So in winter it is advisable to pay more attention to the symptoms of H. pylori and to confirm the infection through a doctor or a home self-test. The presence of the bacterium in the stomach is not in itself a serious problem — attention is needed when there is an overgrowth of the bacterium and unpleasant symptoms appear.

The seasonal variation is documented in published research (PubMed).

If you have symptoms of Helicobacter pylori

Stool test

Blood test

Summary at a glance