by Does she also have the bacteria that make Jessica Athayde ‘really sick’?
Most Portuguese suffer from the same condition and may not even know it. This pathogen is associated with various diseases.
Jessica Athayde suffers from a health problem that has symptoms that many Portuguese people recognize. The actress has been infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is the cause of various gastric problems such as ulcers and gastritis, which trigger a lot of discomfort and vomiting.
“Not even a year ago, I was diagnosed with the stomach bacteria, pylori. I was having a really bad time,” the artist said on Instagram last Wednesday, March 8. However, he has just started treatment.
It is estimated that Helicobacter pylori infection affects 60 to 70 percent of Portuguese people. The high prevalence in our country has been the focus of the scientific community, which is looking for a way to eliminate it and, consequently, reduce the risk of other gastric pathologies. According to researchers from the University’s Institute of Research and Innovation, it is also “the cause of 90 percent of cancers that develop in this organ.”
Faced with the problem, Jéssica Athayde decided to start by trying some less aggressive treatments outside of conventional medicine. “I was in the hands of Chinese medicine, alternative (…) trying to get rid of this tip, and I couldn’t. Until I finally gave in to the treatment for this bacteria and started taking this shit,” he shot, referring to the antibiotic prescribed by the doctor.
Leopoldo Matos, a gastroenterology specialist at Hospital Lusíadas, explained to NiT that there are two treatments available, both with antibiotics. The first involves taking five pills a day, for 14 consecutive days – the aim is to reduce the acidity in the stomach to create an uncomfortable environment for the bacteria to weaken and then be easier to deal with. The second, which is what the SIC actress does, “is shorter, but also more expensive, because she is not compensated.” It consists of taking about 12 pills a day: three at breakfast, three at lunch, three at dinner and three at mid-afternoon.
As a rule, experts recommend the first form of treatment and the second as an alternative if the problem is not resolved. This is because this bacterium has increased its resistance to antibiotics. However, as noted by Jessica Athayde, the treatment causes unpleasant symptoms and destroys the entire intestinal flora. “Some people continue to feel sick to their stomach, have vomiting or diarrhoea.”
The actress is now on the eighth of 10 days in which she will have to take 12 pills a day. “I’m having a bad time, but a really bad time,” he revealed. “If I endured nine months of vomiting when I was pregnant with Ollie, I will endure these 10 days.”
There is no way to prevent it
Bacteria can only survive in acidic environments. This is why we don’t find Helicobacter pylori in the lungs or bladder, for example. “The only organ with these conditions is the stomach,” explains Leonel Matos.
Transmission of this pathogen occurs through contaminated water or food, or from person to person, via saliva or respiratory droplets. Although, “the carrier does not necessarily have to be sick, they may simply have the bacteria and not manifest”, even because it acts as a “facilitator”. This means that the presence of Helicobacter pylori will contribute to the development of certain digestive diseases. However, “it is not the only cause.”
When there are complaints related to the stomach, it is usually checked for the presence of bacteria. “When there is this mistrust, an endoscopy with a biopsy is done, and when we want to confirm that we have eliminated it, we choose a breath test.”
If the result is positive, it means that the treatment of gastritis, ulcers or other pathologies that caused the complaint becomes more difficult and “may take longer”. “For this it is so important, in these cases, to identify and eliminate it, even though it is a complicated process, because of the resistance it already has to some drugssays the clinician.
“It is usually transmitted at younger ages when children are less careful with some protective habits, drink water from any tap, eat with dirty hands or drink from other children’s bottles.”
This bacteria ends up living inside the body for several years and may or may not manifest itself. “Whenever we diagnose an ulcer or gastritis, we need to investigate the presence of the bacteria and eliminate it, in order to treat the problem more effectively and not have a short-term recurrence.”
“There is no specific recommendation to avoid infection”, explains Leopoldo Matos. However, it is fundamental, in terms of general health, to cultivate good personal and hygienic kitchen habits. Among the tips, the gastroenterologist advises: wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating, wash your food well, drink clean water and don’t share cups or bottles.
