yes, statdoc is correct. h pylori is a 'personal' thing, in that the acquisition of the bacteria is a phenomenon that is yet to be elucidated.

even stranger, is that once treated, it doesn't seem to come back...

it is not life threatening per se to either yourself or your daughter, but could cause a gastritis that is resistant to standard H2 therapy.

my only concern from your description (as a surgeon) is that she had a rather atypical acute presentation of h pylori -- sounded almost like an acute gallbladder or perforated peptic ulcer... having an elevated WBC and RUQ/mid epigastric pain of sudden onset is not typical of hpylori infection. this is something that is normally discovered in individuals who are not responsive to treatment for acid reflux or gastritis/PUD using standard H2 therapy...

(by this i mean h pylori)=EDIT