Within the folds of stomach’s deep embrace,
A hidden guest begins to take its place.
Helicobacter pylori, small yet sly,
Unseen it moves, where acid pools lie by.
From tainted food, or water left unclean,
It travels in, with motives yet unseen.
A spiral shape, with flagella to glide,
It anchors deep, where stomach walls reside.
Though many feel no symptoms in their core,
Some find themselves with pain they can’t ignore.
An empty stomach aches, a constant gnaw,
As nausea strikes, and hunger starts to flaw.
The bloating swells, with burps that can’t be tamed,
The body’s weight declines, but none is gained.
Yet worst of all, its damage left to dwell,
It carves out ulcers, where acid starts to swell.
Inflamed, the stomach’s lining starts to burn,
A gastritis flare, from which few can turn.
And worse, the cancer risks begin to rise,
If this invader no one else defies.
With breath or blood, we find where it resides,
A test reveals the truth it aims to hide.
But treatment comes, with antibiotics’ hand,
To cleanse the body, help the stomach stand.
Yet knowledge is the power we require,
To keep this pathogen from building fire.
Clean food, clean water, sanitation’s care—
Keep H. pylori from a stomach’s lair.
