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.”

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What They Are Saying

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

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Matt W.

I was extremely comfortable, well taken care of and had no adverse effects from both procedures. I have no idea why I had any anxiety beforehand. Dr. Quallic (sp) and his team were nothing short of awesome. This by no means affects my review, but my appointment time was 9:40am and I was not called back until 10:40ish. Maybe I missed the “fine print” and that should have been expected, but in regards to those with some anxiety, that hour wait with your thoughts and worries is a little tough. Just my two cents. Thanks for the great care!

Cyndi G.

All staff throughout my procedure was excellent, very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions or concerns I had.

patricia T.

I didn’t have to wait. Very pleasant experience. Dr Donat is very efficient.

cynthia B.

For a colonoscopy, it was an awesome experience! LoL Everyone was professional & so nice. One of my attendants had such a bubbly personality, it put me completely at ease! Wonderful place!!!

Jon D.

CDH has been the epitome of a professional practice. The nursing staff and doctors are friendly and genuinely caring. They are open to questions, informative regarding every step of the procedure and always follow up the following day to ensure you are doing well.

Yvonne Q.

Dr. Weber and all his staff were very professional and caring.

David R J.

The medical staff is very professional. They didn't miss a beat from the time I entered the door, procedure and out the door. Dr. Nandi and staff keep up the professionalism and positive energy.

Dale A.

Dr. Wille and his entire staff are wonderful! Dr. Willie is so nice, concerned for your overall health and very thorough. Very easy to talk to and patient with all your questions. Highly recommend.

Ron Z.

Everyone was excellent to work with. Dr. Webber explained everything before and after procedure. Thanks for the great care.

Kristin L.

Team is amazing. Friendly, efficient, caring and knowledgeable

Renato D.

I only waited 10 minutes after I arrived before they took me back. The procedure only lasted 1 hour before I was in recovery. Thanks for everything!

Deb G.

Number one service. Everything went very well. Everyone was very helpful and kind.

Christina H.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Donat and his entire staff, especially Sarah R., medical assistant. From the moment you walk into the office, you are treated with kindness, professionalism, and genuine compassion. Dr. Donat takes the time to truly listen to his patients, explain everything thoroughly, and make you feel comfortable and cared for. It’s rare to find a physician who combines such extensive knowledge with such an amazing bedside manner. The office runs efficiently and communication is excellent and prompt. Sarah R. deserves special recognition for her thorough patient care, attention to detail, and warm personality. She consistently goes above and beyond to help patients. Her dedication to her role does not go unnoticed. If you are looking for exceptional gastroenterology care or IV infusion services, I highly recommend Dr. Donat and his team. Five-star care from truly exceptional healthcare professionals!

Steven K.

Very professional and caring for health patients. highly recommend!

Michael O.

Professional, personable, and efficient! The staff was very helpful and made the process easy!

stewart S.

My wife and I had a very productive visit with Dr. Desai yesterday. We thoroughly discussed my health issues and set up a new dietary plan. We wish to think Dr. Desai for his caring assistance.

fishing B.

Great staff, they made me feel very comfortable.

Ping X.

Active / Kind / Accurate

Robyn M.

Great office!

thomas S.

Very positive and stress free experience. Staff, nurses and doctor were extremely pleasant, answered all of my questions and made me feel very comfortable.

Scott K.

Everyone was so professional and fun to be around, no concerns or complaints keep up the great work & keep treating everyone the way you want to be treated 👍

Tim H.

Doctor and staff were very efficient. Appointment was quick. I was in and out in about 25min. I would recommend Doctor.

Vincent K.

I appreciated being told at registration what the planned schedule was for my procedure. And it was pretty much on time. Also, the nurses who prepared me and discharged me were very professional and most pleasant.

Sherry G.

Doctor Bologna is fantastic!! He is very caring.and does a really great job.!

Cheryl P.

Everyone there are so pleasant

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

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Lynda V.

Very prompt & very detailed. Excellent experience

Susie K.

Staff is excellent! They process a lot of people on a daily basis, but they still make you feel like an individual not just a number. I am very impressed 👏

Andrea T.

Recently had my first experience here and the staff was very friendly and put me at ease.

Therice S.

The experience with my procedure was very postive even though I hated to get it don the staff was excellent and very professional

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.

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