Nigeria, July 26 -- Many Nigerians believe that skipping meals or eating spicy food is what causes stomach ulcers. But health experts say the main cause is the bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and the awareness of how it spreads and its long-term risks is key to early treatment and prevention.

H. pylori infects the stomach and can remain undetected for years in many people. In some people, it causes inflammation and damage to the stomach lining, leading to pain, ulcers, and in severe cases, cancer.

"A lot of people still think ulcers are mostly caused by stress or fasting," said Ganiyat Oyeleke, a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. "But most peptic ulcers are caused...