Clostridium difficile

Symptoms of a C. difficile infection

Symptoms of a C. difficileinfection usually develop when you're taking antibiotics, or when you've finished taking them within the last few weeks.

The most common symptoms are:

watery diarrhoea , which can be bloody
painful tummy cramps
feeling sick
signs of dehydration , such asa dry mouth , headaches and peeing less often than normal
a high temperature (fever) of above 38C (100.4F)
loss of appetite and weight loss

Insome cases, serious complications can develop, such as damage to the bowel or severe dehydration , which may causedrowsiness, confusion, a rapid heart rate and fainting .

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for clostridium difficile

Introduction

Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhoea. Find out what the symptoms are, who's most at risk and how it's treated.

Symptoms of a C. difficile infection

Symptoms of a C. difficileinfection usually develop when you're taking antibiotics, or when you've finished taking them within the last few weeks. The most common symptoms are: watery diarrhoea , w

Who's most at risk of C. difficile?

C. difficile mostly affects people who: have been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (antibiotics that work againstseveral types of bacteria) or several different antibiotics at the same time,

When to get medical advice

Visiting your GP surgery with a possible C. difficile infectioncan put others at risk, so it's best to call your GP or NHS 111 if you're concerned or feel you need advice. Get medical advice if: yo

Treatment for C. difficile

Your GP will decide whether you need hospital treatment (if you're not already in hospital). Ifthe infection isrelatively mild, you may be treated at home. If you're in hospital, youmight be moved to

Looking after yourself at home

If you're well enough to be treated at home, the following measures can helprelieve your symptoms and prevent the infection spreading: make sure you finish the entire course of any antibiotics you'r

C. difficile bacteria are found in thedigestive systemof about 1 in every 30 healthy adults. The bacteriaoften live harmlessly because the other bacteria normally found in the bowel keep it under cont

How to stop C. difficile spreading

C.difficileinfections canbe passed onvery easily. You can reduce your risk of picking it up or spreading it by practising good hygiene, both at homeand in healthcare settings. The following measures

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