GETTING TO KNOW THE UREA BREATH TEST - EXAMINATION FOR GASTRIC ULCERS
Gastric ulcers or often referred to by the medical term "peptic ulcers", are open sores or damage to the inner lining of the stomach. Gastric ulcers are caused by infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alcohol, smoking, and stress.
Diagnosis of gastric ulcers can also be done through various methods, one of which is the Urea Breath Test (UBT). In this article, we will dig deeper into the Urea Breath Test, how the process will be carried out, its accuracy, and what are its benefits in diagnosing gastric ulcers.
What is Urea Breath Test?
Urea Breath Test (UBT) itself is a type of non-invasive test that will be used to detect H. pylori infection in the stomach. H. pylori infection is also one of the main causes of gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis. UBT works by detecting the production of ammonia gas in the stomach that can be produced by H. pylori bacteria when they digest urea.
Purpose of Urea Breath Test
As explained, the main purpose of the urea breath test is to diagnose gastric ulcers by detecting the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This examination also aims to begin monitoring the effectiveness of treatment and ensure that the infection has been resolved. Factors that usually put someone at risk of being infected with H. pylori bacteria so that they need to do a urea breath test are living in an environment with poor sanitation and also population density.
And must drink water that has not been boiled properly. In addition, this urea breath test itself can also be done to detect H. pylori bacterial infection in a patient who is also suspected of having gastritis (inflammation of the stomach wall). Some symptoms that indicate gastritis are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and changes in stool color to black or even accompanied by blood.
Proses Urea Breath Test
The UBT process is simple and painless. Here are the most common steps in doing UBT :
- Fasting: Patients will usually be asked to fast for at least 6 hours before taking the test. This is very important so that the test results are not affected by the food or drink consumed by the patient himself.
- Administration of Urea Solution: The patient will immediately be given a urea solution containing carbon or nitrogen isotopes.
- Breathing: After consuming the urea solution, patients will immediately be asked to breathe into a special container or insert a small tube into their mouth to begin capturing breath samples properly.
- Waiting Time: The patient must also wait for some time, usually around 30 minutes, while refraining from eating or drinking.
- Breath Sampling: After the waiting time has expired, a breath sample from the patient will be immediately taken and analyzed to measure the amount of ammonia gas produced.
Accuracy of Urea Breath Test
UBT also has a high level of accuracy in detecting H. pylori infection, with a sensitivity and specificity level reaching more than 90%. This level of accuracy will make UBT one of the methods of choice in diagnosing H. pylori infection and also gastric ulcers. However, the accuracy of UBT can be affected by several factors, including the use of antibiotics or antacids before the test, as well as certain medical conditions that affect the production of urea in the stomach.
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