Clostridium difficile (C. diff.)? Show
Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) is a type of bacteria that lives in many people’s intestines. C. diff. is part of the normal balance of bacteria in your body. It also lives in the environment, such as in soil, water, and animal feces. Most people never have problems with C. diff. However, if there is an imbalance in your intestines, C. diff. may begin to grow out of control. The bacteria start to release toxins that irritate and attack the lining of your intestines. This is what leads to symptoms of a C. diff. infection.
C. diff. infections can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms can include:
Severe symptoms can include:
Call your doctor if:
The most common risk factor for C. diff. is the use of an antibiotics. Antibiotics can disrupt the normal balance in your intestines. Your risk increases if you have taken antibiotics for a long period of time or if the antibiotic is broad-spectrum (treats a wide variety of bacteria).. People who are 65 years of age or older are at greater risk of a C. diff. infection. Other risk factors include:
If you are in good health, you likely will not get a C. diff. infection
Your doctor will need to test a stool sample to diagnose C. diff. Follow-up tests may be needed to confirm. Your doctor may do an X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan of your colon. You can test positive for a C. diff. infection without having any symptoms. This is known as C. diff. colonization. Some people are carriers for C. diff. but do not have C. diff. A positive test result plus symptoms indicate that you have an active C. diff. infection.
A C. diff. infection is contagious. The bacteria can spread person to person. They also live a long time on surfaces, such as toilet seats, telephones, and doorknobs. Good hygiene can help you avoid the bacteria.
If you have a C. diff. infection, wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after using the restroom. Use a chlorine bleach-based product to clean surfaces you may have touched to avoid spreading the infection to others. About 1 in 5 people who have C. diff. will get it again.
If you were taking an antibiotic when your symptoms started, your doctor will probably ask you to stop taking it. They will watch you for dehydration if you have severe diarrhea. About 25% of patients begin to improve 2 to 3 days after they stop the antibiotic that caused the infection. For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a 10-day dose of an antibiotic that has proved effective in treating C. diff. infections. Examples include metronidazole and vancomycin. You should improve after 72 hours of starting the medicine, although the diarrhea may continue. In about 15% to 35% of cases, a second round of antibiotics is needed. While you recover, drink plenty of fluids to replace what your body lost due to diarrhea. Avoid milk products and foods that contain wheat flour or are high in fiber. Your digestive tract may be sensitive to them for a few days.
If your infection gets worse, you may become dehydrated or be unable to pass stool. In rare cases, C. diff. can lead to sepsis (a life-threatening blood infection) or a puncture in your intestines. If you have diarrhea and think it could be caused by C. diff., check with your doctor before using antidiarrhea medicine. These drugs can make your infection worse. Certain probiotics, or “good bacteria,” may help prevent repeat C. diff. infections. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. They can instruct what to take along with antibiotics. What else can cause C. diff besides antibiotics?Certain medical conditions or procedures may make you more susceptible to a C. difficile infection, including: Inflammatory bowel disease. Weakened immune system from a medical condition or treatment (such as chemotherapy) Chronic kidney disease.
Is C. diff always caused by antibiotics?C. diff can affect anyone. Most cases of C. diff occur when you've been taking antibiotics or not long after you've finished taking antibiotics.
What are the warning signs of C. diff?Symptoms of a C.. watery diarrhoea, which can be bloody.. painful tummy cramps.. feeling sick.. signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, headaches and peeing less often than normal.. a high temperature (fever) of above 38C (100.4F). loss of appetite and weight loss.. Can C. diff resolve on its own without antibiotics?diff go away on its own? Asymptomatic Clostridium difficile infections usually go away on their own without even being noticed. When a C. diff infection does become symptomatic, research has shown that 1 in 5 infections will resolve without medications.
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