Clostridium Difficile Infections

Also called: C. diff. infections, Clostridium enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis. Symptoms include

Watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
Fever
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Abdominal pain or tenderness

You might get C. difficile disease if you have an illness that requires prolonged use of antibiotics. Increasingly, the disease can also be spread in the hospital. The elderly are also at risk. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Symptoms of Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following features are indicative of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

watery diarrhea
fever
loss of appetite
nausea
abdominal pain
tenderness

It is possible that Clostridium Difficile Infections shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following are the most common causes of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

recent antibiotic use
recent hospitalization
inflammation of the colon

Risk Factors for Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

currently taking multiple antibiotics or broad-spectrum antibiotics
taking medications to reduce stomach acid

Prevention of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Clostridium Difficile Infections. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

wash the hands properly
thorough cleaning of body
avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics

Occurrence of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Clostridium Difficile Infections cases seen each year worldwide:

Not common between 50K - 500K cases

Common Age Group

Clostridium Difficile Infections most commonly occurs in the following age group:

Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Clostridium Difficile Infections can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Clostridium Difficile Infections:

Stool tests: To detect the infection in a sample of your stool
Colon examination: To examine the areas of inflammation and pseudomembranes
Abdominal X-ray: To provide images of the colon
Computerized tomography scan: To provide images of the colon

Doctor for Diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

Gastroenterologist
Hepatologist

Complications of Clostridium Difficile Infections if untreated

Yes, Clostridium Difficile Infections causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Clostridium Difficile Infections is left untreated:

dehydration
kidney failure
bowel perforation
can be fatal

Procedures for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following procedures are used to treat Clostridium Difficile Infections:

Surgery: To remove the diseased portion of the colon
Fecal microbiota transplant: To treat recurrent clostridium difficile infections

Self-care for Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

Drink plenty of fluids: Helps treating diarrhea
Practice good hygiene: To help prevent the spread of C. difficile
Do thorough cleaning: Help prevent the spread of C. difficile

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Clostridium Difficile Infections:

Apply aloe vera gel: Helps in treating ulcerative colitis
Consume wheat grass juice: Helps treating ulcerative colitis
Use Boswellia serrata herb: Helps in treating ulcerative colitis

Time for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Clostridium Difficile Infections to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:

In 1 - 4 weeks

Is Clostridium Difficile Infections Infectious?

Yes, Clostridium Difficile Infections is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:

contact with infected surface

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.

This page provides information for Clostridium Difficile Infections.

Clostridium Difficile Infections

Symptoms of Clostridium Difficile Infections

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Common Causes of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Risk Factors for Clostridium Difficile Infections

Prevention of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Occurrence of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Number of Cases

Common Age Group

Common Gender

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Doctor for Diagnosis of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Complications of Clostridium Difficile Infections if untreated

Procedures for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Self-care for Clostridium Difficile Infections

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Time for Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infections

Is Clostridium Difficile Infections Infectious?

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