H. pylori Testing and Treatment in Spain
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)
Video care for Helicobacter pylori with a GP licensed in Spain: the right test, treatment when it is positive and the follow-up test.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera
Licence No. 484814280 · Urgent, non-emergency care
Common Symptoms
Helicobacter pylori is a common stomach bacterium. Many people carry it without symptoms, but it can cause stomach ulcers and gastritis. Symptoms can include:
- A burning or gnawing pain in the upper tummy
- Indigestion or feeling full quickly
- Bloating, belching or nausea
- Pain that eases or gets worse with food
- Loss of appetite
- Low iron (anaemia) without a clear cause
Ongoing stomach pain wears you down, and it is confusing when tests come back in another language. H. pylori is easy to test for and, in most people, it can be cleared with a course of treatment. You do not have to keep guessing.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
How We Treat It
In your video consultation, Dr. Yelamo asks about your symptoms, medicines (especially anti-inflammatories and stomach protectors), allergies to antibiotics and warning signs. Care may include:
- A private request for a breath test or a stool antigen test at a lab near you
- Advice on preparing for the test: stopping stomach protectors such as omeprazole two weeks before and antibiotics four weeks before
- Treatment of a positive result where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation, in line with the Spanish consensus guideline
- Clear advice on how to take a course of several medicines together and what side effects to expect
- A test four or more weeks after treatment to check the infection has gone
- Referral for an endoscopy (camera test) when there are warning signs or symptoms do not settle
Treatment is chosen around local antibiotic resistance and any allergies, and needs to be taken in full. Penicillin allergy changes the choice of medicines, so mention it. A video visit cannot replace an endoscopy when one is needed. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines. Any prescription is a private electronic prescription under Spanish law.
Clinical Evaluation & Evidence-Based Protocol for H. pylori Testing and Treatment
During a telemedicine consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera (licensed medical practitioner No. 484814280 at the Official Medical College of Bizkaia), clinical evaluation adheres strictly to evidence-based medical (EBM) standards. The doctor conducts a thorough history, evaluating symptom duration, aggravating factors, prior treatments, and drug allergies to establish an accurate differential diagnosis.
Private Electronic Prescriptions (Receta Médica) Issued Under Spanish Law
When clinically indicated, Dr. Yelamo issues a private electronic prescription (Receta Médica Electrónica Privada) under Spanish law. The digital prescription contains a secure QR verification code accepted at all 22,000+ registered community pharmacies across Spain for immediate medication dispensing.
Itemized Invoices for Travel & Private Health Insurance Reimbursement
After your consultation, you receive an official medical report and an itemized invoice. The invoice shows Dr. Yelamo's licence details and tax ID. You can send it to your travel or private health insurer (such as Bupa, Allianz, Cigna, AXA or a US travel policy) to claim the cost back.
Preparing for Your Online Medical Consultation
Before your appointment, note when your symptoms started and any medicines you have already tried. Have your allergies and your usual prescriptions to hand. For a skin, rash or eye problem, sit in a well-lit room so the doctor can see it clearly.
Clinical Follow-Up & When In-Person Urgencias Are Necessary
Video care works well for common infections, mild sudden symptoms, skin rashes and repeat prescriptions. Some warning signs need emergency care in person: severe shortness of breath, a high fever you cannot bring down, chest pain or a stiff neck. If you have any of them, call 112 in Spain straight away.
When to Seek Immediate In-Person Care
Go to an emergency department, or call 112, if you have:
- Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, sticky stools
- Sudden, severe tummy pain, or a hard, rigid tummy
- Fainting, a racing heart or feeling very dizzy
Frequently asked questions
How is H. pylori tested?
The usual tests are a urea breath test or a stool antigen test. Both look for an active infection. A blood antibody test only shows past contact, so it is not used to decide treatment or to check that treatment worked.
Do I need to stop my stomach medicine before the test?
Yes. Stop proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole two weeks before the test, and antibiotics or bismuth four weeks before. Otherwise the test may be falsely negative. Antacids are usually fine. Ask the doctor if stopping is hard for you.
What is the treatment for Helicobacter pylori?
A combination of antibiotics plus an acid-suppressing medicine, prescribed by a doctor. The Spanish consensus recommends a stomach protector with several antibiotics, with or without bismuth, for 10 to 14 days. The exact plan depends on your allergies and earlier treatments. Taking every dose matters more than anything else.
Does H. pylori cause tiredness?
Not directly, but it can. The infection can cause slow bleeding from an ulcer or gastritis and reduce how well iron and vitamin B12 are absorbed, which leads to anaemia, and anaemia makes you tired. If you feel worn out with stomach symptoms, a blood count and iron and B12 levels are worth checking.
How do I know the infection has gone?
With a test after treatment: a breath test or a stool antigen test four or more weeks after you finish, and at least two weeks off stomach protectors, confirms that the infection has gone. Symptoms easing is not enough. If the test is still positive, a different treatment is used.
Do I need an endoscopy?
Not usually. It is needed if you have warning signs such as weight loss, trouble swallowing, vomiting, black stools or anaemia, or if symptoms start for the first time at an older age. The doctor will refer you if so.
Price and booking terms
Urgent Care: €50 · 15 minutes, per video consultation
Included
- Video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera
- Medical report
- Itemised invoice for your insurer
- Private electronic prescription under Spanish law, only if clinically indicated after the video assessment
Payment and cancellation
- You pay when you book. Prices are in euros and include applicable taxes.
- The fee covers the consultation only, not medicines, lab tests or scans.
- Cancel or change your appointment free of charge up to 24 hours before it starts.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before, or do not attend, the fee is kept.
- If Dr. Yelamo cancels, or the video call fails because of a problem on his side, you get a full refund.
Online consultations are for urgent, non-emergency care. In a medical emergency call 112 immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.
Every day · 07:30–20:30One named doctor, from first call to follow-up
Book a secure 15-minute video consultation with Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera for €50. Appointments every day, 07:30–20:30 (Spain time). For urgent, non-emergency care; in an emergency, call 112.
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