Clostridium difficile, which is also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacteria that exists in many places. People naturally have it in their intestines, but additional spores exist in a number of places such as hospitals. More than 500,000 people develop a condition called C diff each year, and a portion of that number of people dies if they do not take care of it as quickly as possible. Unsuspecting victims can get an infection in their colon if they pick up too many spores.
The offensive spores can come from a number of environments and situations, but hospitals are the most common. Many people pick up spores from hospital bathrooms, utensils and even linens. The most vulnerable of people who develop C. diff are those who take antibiotics. Antibiotics sometimes kill healthy bacteria, and that gives the “bad” bacteria the opportunity to keep on growing until it forms an all-out infection.
People who spend any significant amount of time in the hospital are susceptible to C diff, as well. Getting a proper diagnosis is a key factor in saving a person’s life who has fallen ill with the symptoms that seem to indicate the sickness. The following are the nine most common signs and symptoms of the infection to look out for:
1. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the most common and prevalent signs that show up when a person is suffering from C diff. The medical profession describes it as loose, watery stools that come frequently. Other symptoms such as pain and nausea may accompany it, as well. Diarrhea can occur up to 10 times every day in a person who is suffering from C. diff.
Any person who has been exposed to the spores and has runny stools more than three times in one day should visit a doctor’s office and ask about some testing because it’s quite possible that the bacteria and infection are present.
2. Stomach Ache
The toxins that the bacteria make can damage the colon’s lining, and this can cause colitis. Colitis is the medical term for the inflammation of the colon’s lining. This condition can cause a stomach ache in a person who is suffering from C. diff. The pain can vary from mild pain to crippling abdominal pain.
Stomach cramps don’t usually exist as a single symptom of the disorder. They usually exist with at least one other symptom such as watery stools or fever. Still, no one should rule out the condition, and anyone who experiences the symptoms should make an appointment with a specialist immediately.
3. Fever
A fever is a normal reaction to any type of invasion that occurs in the body. If someone has C. diff, the body will develop a fever as the immune system tries to ward off the invasion. It is not abnormal for someone with this infection to have a fever that rises above 101 Fahrenheit.
Chills may also be present in a person who has the C. diff bacteria. Chills happen because the body is trying to adjust its thermostat so to speak. It tries to regulate its temperature to decrease the rapid growth that the victim is exhibiting. Chills can sometimes cause teeth clenching, shivering and other symptoms.
4. Bloating
The episode of C diff can cause the sufferer to experience bloating because of the inflammation that the colon is experiencing. This bloating can accompany pain, and it most likely will in C. diff sufferers. Eating certain foods may make the bloating get worse.
A person can do a few things to try to make the situation a little bit better. Cutting down on carbohydrates, acidic drinks, raw vegetables and spicy foods may help someone who is suffering from C. diff. The urge for that person to eat will most likely be non-existent anyway because of the other symptoms. However, it’s a good practice to be careful about these foods if the individual is eating anything. If the individual is still eating, he or she could try the above-mentioned tips.
5. Blood in Stool
The C. diff infection can cause a person to have blood in his or her stool when going to the bathroom. To recognize blood in the stool, the person must examine the color of the feces. Blood-tinged feces may have a tarry or dark color to it as opposed to a bright red color. A bright red stool is more likely to indicate that the person has eaten something such as carrot or beats that played a part in tinging the color of the waste. Many people think that blood-tinged stool should be red, but blood transforms hen it mixes with other substances.
6. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is very common with bacterial issues and invasions. Pain in the abdomen can vary depending on the severity of the person’s infection with C. diff. These pains or cramps can be mild enough to allow the person to participate in some normal activities, or they can be bad enough to prevent the person from even getting out of bed. Anyone who is exhibiting pain in the abdomen along with diarrhea or any of the other symptoms has a high chance of carrying the C. diff illness. A medical professional should look into that for the person at once.
7. Vomiting
The C. diff infection can cause a victim to vomit frequently. Vomiting is the involuntary expulsion of foods from the stomach that usually occurs during illnesses that affect the digestive system. The vomiting may accompany painful and frequent diarrhea.
These two symptoms in themselves are dangerous for anyone who is experiencing them because they can cause that person to experience dehydration. Dehydration requires an immediate trip to the hospital for IV water treatments. Anyone who has loose stools more than three times or vomits more than three times in one day is at risk.
8. Cramping
Cramping is a symptom that goes right along with abdominal pain and stomach aches. Cramping is a little different from a regular stomach ache, however. A cramp is a spasm in the gut, and it can be severely painful for the person who experiences it. It is possible for someone who is suffering from C. diff to have cramping, stomach ache and abdominal pain all at once and have no idea where to turn to about it. Any of those symptoms could indicate that the individual has fallen victim to C diff attack on his or her body.
9. Loss of Appetite
Finally, suffering from all of the above-mentioned symptoms can cause the person to completely lose an appetite. It’s important for the individual to try to keep something in the body. Perhaps a few crackers will stay down. Even if the person can get no food into the system, he or hs she should try to drink water as much as possible. If dehydration occurs, the person will have more problems added to the initial problem of the C. diff.
A mixture of any of these symptoms along with risk factors can indicate that the person has contracted the infection. Anyone who suspects that he or she may have C diff will need to contact a medical specialist and let this person know. The victim should not wait to contact a doctor because every minute is extremely important. Symptoms could easily accelerate and cause harm to the person who is already suffering enough. The specialist will then run the appropriate blood tests to look for the infection, and treatment can begin shortly thereafter. Tests for C diff may include stool tests, imaging tests and other tests. Treatment will most likely involve antibiotics that are specifically designed for the C diff infection.
