Contemplating the future without Helicobacter pylori and the dire consequences hypothesis.

Helicobacter pylori is a serious chronic transmissible pathogen that causes gastric structural and functional damage and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. H. pylori is one of the digestive tract pathogens that has traveled with mankind since before humans moved out of Africa. Some have suggested that the long association of H. pylori with humans means there must be a benefit and suggest dire consequences will follow its eradication. Fortunately, there are now sufficient experiences with the outcome of treatment and with populations where the infection disappeared long ago to support the conclusion that H. pylori is a serious chronic transmissible pathogen that no one needs, deserves, or desires. The dire consequence hypotheses have proven to be erroneous attempts to blame some of the problems facing the modern world on a pathogen that was and is responsible for much suffering, morbidity, and mortality. It is time to join together to eradicate it and to let H. pylori join smallpox and polio on the hit list of undesirables.