What is C. difficile colitis?
Colitis occurs whenever the colon is inflamed. C. difficile indicates Clostridium difficile, commonly called Clostridioides difficile, which is a germ that can invade the body and produce issues in the colon. So, C. difficile colitis refers to a problem in which a bacterium invades a person’s body and generates swelling of the intestines. If you are dealing with, or think you could have, C. difficile colitis, the skilled GI physicians at Denver Digestive Health Specialists offer trusted care and solutions. At each of our Denver, CO locations, we aim to provide you with the latest in cutting-edge care for C. diff. Please get in touch with your nearest location today to request a consultation.
What causes C. difficile colitis?
C. difficile colitis can occur when the body becomes contaminated with the bacterium C. difficile. This type of bacterium is present within the environment, such as in drinks, meat, human and animal stool, air, soil, and more. The spores of the bacteria can spread either through direct contact or in the air and can thrive in a particular area for as long as several months. An individual may unknowingly swallow the spores and get sick with C. difficile bacteria. Any person could develop a C. diff illness and, when impacted, they might distribute the infection to other people, even if they are not symptomatic themselves.
What are the signs of C. difficile infections?
Some people can carry the C. difficile bacterium and never feel ill. Signs of C. difficile colitis may differ from mild to severe. The most common signs of C. difficile infection include:
- Weight loss
- Blood or pus in the bowel movements
- Watery, loose bowel movements
- Fever
- Stomach tenderness or pain
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
If you have any combination of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact a GI specialist at Denver Digestive Health Specialists right away. We can help you begin to feel normal again.
How is C. difficile colitis treated?
C. diff can normally be handled with antibiotics that target the C. difficile bacteria. In certain severe cases, surgery may be needed to eliminate the infected part of the large bowel. After meeting with your Denver, CO gastroenterologist, they will help you determine the optimal treatment for your needs. If left untreated, this issue can cause complications such as serious dehydration, acute renal injury, toxic megacolon, or perforated bowel. Severe instances may even become fatal if left untreated.
Help for individuals with colitis
Even when C. difficile infection symptoms are mild, treatment to stop the distribution and prevent the possibility of serious impairment to the large intestine is essential. When seeking treatment for C. difficile colitis, we suggest you contact the experts in digestive health at Denver Digestive Health Specialists. Call your nearest location to find out more about the treatment for C. diff in Denver, CO and the steps you should take to safeguard your GI health.
