Difficile Colitis

What is C. Difficile Colitis?

According to experts, C. difficile colitis is an infection that is caused by a type of bacteria called Clostridium difficile. C. difficile colitis can vary in severity; in some cases, it causes a bout of diarrhea, but sometimes, it can lead to a serious colon infection, which can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of C. Difficile Colitis

C. difficile colitis can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Typically, symptoms begin five to 10 days after a person starts using an antibiotic medication, but they can appear as soon as a day after, or as long as two months after beginning an antibiotic.

In mild to moderate cases, C. difficile colitis symptoms include the following:

Mild abdominal cramps
Tenderness in the abdomen
Watery diarrhea at least three times per day for two or more days

In severe cases, symptoms of C. difficile colitis include:

Severe pain and cramping in the abdomen
Elevated heart rate
Watery diarrhea occurring as many as 10-15 times daily
Blood or pus in the stool
Lack of appetite
Fever
Nausea
Dehydration
Weight loss
Swelling in the abdomen
Elevated white blood cell count
C. difficile colitis can even cause life-threatening complications, such as kidney failure, enlarged colon, severe intestinal inflammation, and sepsis.

Causes of C. Difficile Colitis

There are several potential causes of C. difficile colitis, but one common cause of this condition is antibiotic use. When a person uses antibiotics, these medications kill some of the healthy bacteria found in the body, which can cause C. difficile to grow quickly.

Other risk factors for C. difficile colitis include:

Staying in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or nursing home
Having abdominal surgery
Having a weakened immune system
Having serious medical conditions like colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
Being age 65 or older
Having had C. difficile colitis in the past
How is C. Difficile Colitis Treated?

If you think you may have C. difficile colitis, it is important to seek treatment, because this condition can cause complications such as kidney failure, bowel perforation, and even death if left untreated.

The first part of treatment for C. difficile colitis is to stop taking the antibiotic that triggered the infection. While it may seem counterintuitive, treatment for C. difficile colitis usually involves taking another antibiotic.

In severe cases of C. difficile colitis, surgery may be necessary to remove the unhealthy portion of the colon. If C. difficile colitis is recurring, a doctor may perform a procedure called fecal microbiota transplant, in which stool from a healthy donor is implanted in an infected colon.

Treatment is important to prevent complications from C. difficile colitis, so you should seek medical care promptly if you have had watery diarrhea three or more times per day for two days or symptoms like bloody stool or severe abdominal cramping.

Applicable Procedures

Colonoscopy

Can you die from C. difficile colitis?

In some cases, C. difficile colitis is mild and causes a quick bout of diarrhea. Other times, it is severe and can cause life-threatening complications like kidney failure, enlarged colon, or sepsis.

Is treatment necessary for C. difficile colitis?

Since C. difficile colitis can lead to life threatening complications in some cases, it is important to seek treatment if you think you have symptoms of this condition. If you have had watery diarrhea for two days, you should seek medical care as soon as possible.

How is C. difficile colitis treated?

The first line of treatment for C. difficile colitis is typically an antibiotic. If symptoms are serious, you may need surgery to remove part of the colon, or a fecal microbiota transplant, in which you receive stool from a healthy donor to be implanted into your colon.

Common Symptoms

“I had watery diarrhea multiple times per day for days on end.”
“About a week after taking an antibiotic for an ear infection, I noticed that my stomach was tender, and I started to have diarrhea repeatedly throughout the day.”
“After I went through a course of antibiotics, I suddenly developed severe cramps and stomach pain, and I was having diarrhea hourly throughout the day.”

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What They Are Saying



Excellent

Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

Based on 6258 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Maria V.

Well organized. Staff very friendly. Dr. Donat very experience does an excellent job.

Stephanie M. P.

Dr. Quallich and the entire staff are amazing and have such a great bedside manner. Very thankful for their compassion, attentiveness and professionalism!

Mike C.

The staff was Great, the doctors were Great and the facilities were very clean. The whole experience was very pleasant and professional.

jeff S.

Everyone was very friendly and caring. The procedure was quick and painless.

Geri M.

Wonderful people and a great Dr

Mary Lou R.

Always friendly greeted at the desk, check in is quick.

Dottie D.

I trust Dr Nandi and his staff very much in taking care of me during the procedures I had. They are all super friendly which is very calming st a time like that. They all get a thumbs up!!!

Debbie H.

I had a colonoscopy at the Center for Digestive Health/Macomb Endoscopy Center. I felt very much at ease and the procedure went extremely well. Dr. Weber was kind and somehow it made me know that I was in good hands. The anesthesiologist was also great. After the necessary, nasty prep for this, it is such a relief when the actual procedure goes so smooth.

Albert P.

Thank you to all staff for making my Health your upmost priority. The Center for Digestive Health provided a top notch service. A special thanks to my favorite and forever GI Doctor Aalia Saeed! Thanks for being so thorough and caring. If it weren't for you my health would be in great danger. My concerns were taken seriously and I am so grateful. Keep up the amazing work!

Jim L.

Couldn’t ask for a better practice. Everyone is friendly and you can see work well together. Would highly recommend.

Jona H.

I recently had a procedure done by Dr. Bakken and from start to finish my experience was amazing. To begin, Dr. Bakken has been the first doctor to make me feel heard and that I have someone advocating for my gut health. When I arrived for the procedure, every single person I interacted with was so kind and helpful. Once I was checked in and called back into the room, they did a great job getting me prepped for my procedure. Everyone I interacted with told me their name and what they were doing. I recommend this facility for anyone who is dealing with any type of gut health. I have celiac disease and IBS, and Dr. Bakken is doing everything she can to support me as I navigate this.

Buddy G.

Excellent staff, didn’t feel uncomfortable at all

Ramona M.

Everything from the beginning was perfectly organized. The whole team was very kind, helpful and supportive. Everyone took care about me during the whole procedure. I felt in really good hands with Dr. Quallich and his awesome team! Thank you very much for making me everything easy and feeling comfortable! I can really recommend it for everyone who has issues with digestive problems or pain.

William M.

The staff and Dr Bologna was great and very helpful.

Tanya M.

Everyone is very caring and pleasant

Ling M.

Nic was the best patient care ever and made our visit amazjng! Thank you for your patience with us. Youll go far in your career!

Nancy K.

The office was very well organized. Was called in timely fashion. The staff was very good and listened well.

Jim B.

Good service. Apt time was kept. Frendly staff. Only problem I had was I could not verify my apt time on the paitent portal. I saw the date, but no time was listed.

Connor B.

Everyone was friendly and prompt. They have this system down pat. Very good experience for something that is not very pleasant to do.

MNH

Very professional on time friendly!!

John W S.

Everyone here is incredibly kind and caring. I had some anxiety when I was preparing for my procedure, but it was done and over with before I had time to think about it. Dr. Donat is excellent, and takes time to explain everything.

Barbara M.

Every one was caring and prepared me for the colonoscopy with their clear instructions. The recovery room was pleasant and not rushed and was a good experience.

Thomas A L.

very nice and helpful staff awesome Doctors, and PA. very caring and concerning about the problem.

Chris F.

If it is possible to say, I had a great experience with the entire team when I had my procedure. Due to a bad experience in the past at another medical facility I was terrified to have anything done, but from start to finish they all treated me with kindness, caring, and complete professionalism that made me extremely comfortable both during and after the entire process. I highly recommend!

Nancy K.

The Doctor and staff were friendly and gave excellent directions and explained everything well. I could not believe how fast they were and efficient beyond belief. Very pleased and satisfied!

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

Based on 6263 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Cheryl P.

Everyone there are so pleasant

Kathy M.

The staff was amazing as well as Dr. Quallach I highly recommend the staff and the doctor

Salli D.

All the staff are kind & compassionate, they go above and beyond to make you comfortable and at ease.

Bob O.

Don’t be scared off by their call center. Leave a message. They eventually will call you back. May be several days as it was for me. From then on very professional. Dr. Bologna was fantastic. Caring. Interested. Procedure was performed within hour of check-in. I was home in 2 1/2 hours. Amazing. Pain-free. Professional from Jan in check-in to nurse Brittany who got me prepped to Dr Kim in anesthesia to Dr Bologna to post op nurses like Denise and to Debbie who walked me to my ride. First-class all the way.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

3 reasons to see a gastrointestinal specialist when you turn 45

A gastrointestinal specialist is someone who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract involves a pathway that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The organs within the gastrointestinal tract are those that function mostly for...

The Benefits of Water for Digestion

Digestion is a process that, when running smoothly, can help keep the rest of your body in good condition too. It’s an important component of your overall health. There are several different ways that the digestive system can be well maintained, and this can be helped...

Do I Need an Endoscopy for Acid Reflux?

An endoscopy is a procedure that is typically used to examine an individual’s digestive tract. It is a non-surgical procedure that involves a tube with a video camera attached to it, called an endoscope, that is used to examine the inside of a cavity in the body. An...