Digestive System Disorders
Resources and information on ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, IBS, diverticulitus, and other common digestive ailments
Common Ailments:
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn's Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Diverticulitus
- Acid Reflux
- Ulcers
- Pseudomembranous Colitis
- Celiac Disease
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Biliary Atresia
- Hepatitis C
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Appendicitis
Other Articles:
- What Causes Crohn's Disease
- Alternative Treatment For Acid Reflux
- Acid Reflux Diet
- Coping With Diverticulitis
- Ulcerative Colitis Diet
- Digestive Disorders, pH Balance And You
- Surgical Options For Ulcerative Colitis
- Acid Reflux Myths
Pseudomembranous Colitis
Pseudomembranous colitis is an infection of the colon caused by the bacterium Clostridium Difficile. This bacteria releases a powerful toxin that causes symptoms that include abdominal pain, fever, and foul smelling diarrhea. Pseudomembranous colitis is commonly associated with hospitalization and antibiotic use, which may alter the balance of normal intestinal flora and allow overgrowth of certain organisms. The bacterium Clostridium Difficile may complicate the course of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and is recognized as a serious and sometimes lethal gastrointestinal disease. Other complications include dehydration with electrolyte imbalance, toxic megacolon and perforation of the colon. It infects millions of patients each year and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to doctors. Yet, several advances have been made in the understanding of the disease over the past decade. Symptoms include the urge to defecate, abdominal cramps, low-grade fever, watery diarrhea and bloody stools (with as many as 15 to 30 stools per day). Almost any antibiotic can cause pseudomembranous colitis.
Diagnostic tests for Pseudomembranous colitis include a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy showing pseudomembranous colitis and an immunoassay for C. Difficile toxin. After this condition is found, the antibiotic that is causing the illness must be stopped and the medication vancomycin or metronidazole is used. Intravenous therapy or electrolyte solutions is also used to rehydrate the patient to replace fluids lost with diarrhea. If treated in a timely manner, the prognosis is usually good. If the medications do not control the infection the patient may require surgery to remove the infected colon. People who have had pseudomembranous colitis should inform their doctors before taking antibiotics again.
Other names for Pseudomembranous colitis are: Necrotizing colitis, Antibiotic associated colitis and Colitis - pseudomembranous.
***DISCLAIMER***
This site is meant only to provide information and resources about digestive
system disorders. It is not meant to diagnose any digestive
problems. If you suspect you may have some digestive disorder, then
please, see your doctor, and get his professional opinion and advice.