Published online Feb 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i6.1470
Revised: November 13, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: February 14, 2014
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major cause of chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers and considerable evidence supports the notion that infection with this bacterium is also associated with gastric malignancy in addition to various other conditions including pulmonary, vascular and autoimmune disorders. Gastric juice infected with H. pylori might play an important role in upper respiratory tract infection. Although direct and/or indirect mechanisms might be involved in the association between H. pylori and upper respiratory tract diseases, the etiological role of H. pylori in upper respiratory tract disorders has not yet been fully elucidated. Although various studies over the past two decades have suggested a relationship between H. pylori and upper respiratory tract diseases, the findings are inconsistent. The present overview describes the outcomes of recent investigations into the impact of H. pylori on upper respiratory tract and adjacent lesions.
Core tip: This review evaluates the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the upper respiratory system. Many studies have reported the presence of H. pylori in the upper respiratory tract, but their findings have varied. A definitive relationship between H. pylori and upper respiratory tract disorders has not been established, and further controlled studies are required.