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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

The symptoms of C. difficile colitis range from mild to severe. Watery diarrhea is the main symptom regardless of the severity of the infection, although it may not be present in every patient.

Some patients are carriers of the organism and do not develop an active infection. Approximately 20% of hospitalized patients may be carriers according to some studies. In nursing homes, this number is as high as 50%. These individuals may shed the organism and cause environmental contamination.

Generally, mild C. diff infection (in addition to diarrhea) may result in:

• abdominal pain and cramping,
• bloating,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• fatigue, and
• fever.

The diarrhea may occur up to 10 to 15 times daily. More severe infections may cause severe and profuse diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and high fever. Toxic megacolon, which indicates a massively enlarged and distended colon, is a manifestation of severe disease. Severe cases may also be associated with generalized infection (sepsis) resulting in instability of blood pressure and heart rate, as well as disruption of the functions of other body organs (septic shock).

It is not clear why different individuals have different reactions to C. difficile infections.

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