What Are The Symptoms Of C Diff
Symptoms vary based on how inflamed the colon has become, but can range from slightly loose stools to more than two dozen episodes of diarrhea a day. Abdominal pain and fever can also occur.
In severe cases, C. diff infection can lead to life-threatening dehydration , low blood pressure, a condition called toxic megacolon , and colon perforation.
Which Infection Causes Cfs & Fibromyalgia
The question of which infection, if any, is the cause of CFS and fibromyalgia has been both the Holy Grail and bane of CFS/fibromyalgia researchers. Literally dozens of infections have been implicated, with virtually all of them failing to have reliable testing available to confirm the infection. Because of this, taking a good clinical history, and looking for the response to treatment, continues to be the best approach.
So which infection is the cause of CFS and fibromyalgia? The simple answer is that it isnât a specific infection, but rather an immune dysfunction. This allows many opportunistic infections, ones that cannot survive in a healthy immune system, to cause problems.
Our impression is that the body shows many areas of immune dysfunction, including the inability to turn off the immune system even after certain common viral infections have been eliminated. This contributes to overactivity, followed by exhaustion, of the immune system, resulting in multiple âhitchhikerâ infections being present.
It isnât necessary to treat every infection. But some do need to be addressed. The most important: Candida overgrowth. There is no test that I find reliable for this, but I treat most people who have CFS and fibromyalgia with six weeks of the medication Diflucan 200 mg a day, combined with a low-sugar diet and a weaker antifungal to decrease the risk of developing resistant strains of Candida.
Recommended Reading: Best Industrial Anti Fatigue Mat
Diagnosis And C Diff Treatment Options
There are three common ways doctors diagnose C. diff. Your doctor may ask for a stool sample to conduct a stool test the most common way to diagnose someone.
They may also make the diagnosis after taking an X-ray or a CT scan of your colon to look for signs of bowel inflammation.
In rare cases, your doctor may need to do a colon examination, which requires using a camera to look for signs of infection in your colon.
Your doctor will prescribe another antibiotic for C. diff treatment even when an antibiotic likely caused it.
For those who have more severe infection, surgery to remove the infected part of the colon might be an option.
A fecal microbiota transplant, also known as a stool transplant, or monoclonal antibody infusion may be options for patients who have recurring cases of C. diff.
A fecal transplant is where a donors stool is endoscopically placed into a patients colon or given by mouth in a capsule form to restore healthy bacteria, says Dr. Kwon.
Using over-the-counter probiotics when taking antibiotics has been suggested for primary prevention of C. diff infection, although there isnt enough data to know how well it works.
Also Check: Shingles Fatigue How Long Does It Last
Treatment For C Difficile
Your GP will decide whether you need hospital treatment . If the infection is relatively mild, you may be treated at home.
If you’re in hospital, you might be moved to a room of your own during treatment to reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others.
Treatment for C. difficile can include:
- stopping the antibiotics thought to be causing the infection, if possible in mild cases, this may be the only treatment that’s needed
- taking a 10 to 14-day course of antibiotics that are known to kill C. difficile bacteria
- rarely, serious infections may require surgery to remove a damaged section of the bowel
C. difficile infections usually respond well to treatment, with most people making a full recovery in a week or two. However, the symptoms come back in around 1 in 5 cases and treatment may need to be repeated.
Fecal Matter Transplant Treatment
A newer and more highly effective treatment is a fecal matter transplant, where the fecal matter from a person with healthy gut flora is mixed with saline, strained, inserted into the patient with Clostridium difficile colitis via a colonoscopy, endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or enema in order to recolonize the ill personâs bowels.
You May Like: Non Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Fatigue
Clostridia And The Gut
Have you ever gotten food poisoning? If so, you might have been infected by two different types of clostridium: C. perfringens and C. botulinum . Clostridium is a group of 80+ bacteria that could have potentially harmful effects on your body as they reside in your digestive system .
But did you know that these bugs can also interfere with your dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine metabolism?
You might have heard of the most popular type of clostridia, called C. difficile or C. diff. C. difficile normally resides in people who are taking antibiotics or have been hospitalized . But new studies show that you can get C. diff from being in contact with someone who has this bacteria or by not washing your hands well enough after defecating . A mild to moderate infection of this particular bacteria results in symptoms such as watery diarrhea a few times a day to mild cramping and tenderness in your abdominal area .
But there are other symptoms from clostridium that are more worrisome than diarrhea and cramping. Clostridium can be linked to autism, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric disorders .
Donât Miss: Anti Fatigue Hair Salon Mats
Different Pathogens Employ Common Survival Strategies
Many pathogens employ common survival mechanisms to persist in host cells, tissue and blood. The metabolic dysfunction driven by these different microbes and viruses can result in similar clusters of human inflammatory symptoms. The ability of various pathogens to dysregulate activity of the Vitamin D Nuclear Receptor is an excellent example of how different microbes can drive similar disease processes. The VDR regulates expression of hundreds of human genes, many of which regulate inflammatory and malignant processes . The receptor also controls signaling of TLR2 and several families of antimicrobial peptides including cathelicidin . Pathogens capable of slowing VDR activity can subsequently facilitate their survival by slowing the innate immune response.
Pathogens frequently linked to ME/CFS or inflammatory disease have evolved to survive in this fashion. VDR activity is downregulated as much as 20 times in Epstein Barr Virus-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines .4). HIV, M. tuberculosis Cytomegalovirus, Borrelia burgdorferi and Mycobacterium leprae additionally dysregulate VDR activity to various degrees . The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus secretes a gliotoxin that significantly downregulates VDR expression . Because disabling the innate immune system via the VDR pathway is such a logical survival mechanism, other uncharacterized bacteria, viruses or fungi may have also evolved to dysregulate receptor activity.
Don’t Miss: Does Depression Cause Extreme Fatigue
How Does C Difficile Spread
The Clostridium difficile bacteria are found in stool, or fecal matter, and are spread from person to person through direct and indirect means. When people have the bacteria on their hands and they touch their mouth, they may get the bacteria in their system.
Not everyone who has the bacteria becomes ill, however, so it is possible to spread the infection unknowingly.
Direct contact: Someone who has the bacteria on their hands touches someone else, transferring the germs to the other person.
Indirect contact: The germs can stay alive for quite a while on surfaces, such as bedside tables, elevator buttons, doorknobs, telephones, and even clothing. People with the bacteria on their hands touch these objects. Others then touch them.
Does C Diff Treatment Impact Your Diet
Treatment for C. diff usually starts with a change in your current antibiotic intake. Your doctor may try other antibiotics to stop the C. diff germ from multiplying. Some antibiotics used to treat C. diff have potential side effects, such as abdominal pain and nausea. These symptoms may make it harder for you to eat. If you find it difficult to keep food down, your doctor may recommend that you stick to a liquid diet for several days prior to starting a soft food regimen.
If you continue to experience symptoms or you have a recurrence of infection, alternative treatments may be beneficial. These include:
You May Like: Glasses For Eye Fatigue From Computer
How Is C Diff Diagnosed
Doctors will suspect C. diff infection when a person develops diarrhea within two months of using an antibiotic. A lab test confirms the diagnosis by looking for one of the toxins produced by C. diff in a stool sample.
Imaging tests such as abdominal X-rays or computed tomography may be done if a serious complication is suspected.
Read Also: Magnilife Pain & Fatigue Relief Tablets
What Is C Diff
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium commonly found in the soil, air, and water. It is present in small amounts in the bodies of 1 to 3% of the U.S. population. Under normal circumstances, it doesnt cause any harm. But it is opportunistic, and if given room to grow, it multiplies and crowds out the beneficial bacteria in the gut. This can happen during or after a course of antibiotics, which are meant to kill bacteria that cause infections, but also end up wiping out the helpful bacteria.
When a C. diff infection takes hold, it releases toxins that inflame the lining of the colon, causing symptoms ranging from slightly loose stools to severe diarrhea, as well as fever and abdominal pain.
Also Check: Mega Comfort Anti Fatigue Insoles
Medication Options For C Diff
While it may sound counterintuitive , the initial treatment for an infection usually requires taking one of three antibiotics that remain effective against the bacteria. These drugs include, yet are not limited to:
Vancomycin is typically the first-line antibiotic for the treatment of C. diff, while fidaxomicin may be reserved for those with severe symptoms.
C. diff
How Do You Treat C Diff
The first step in treating C. diff infections is to discontinue the course of antibiotics that caused the infection in the first place. The next step is to begin taking an antibiotic that will treat the C. diff infection. There are a limited number of these drugs, including metronidazole , vancomycin , and fidaxomicin.
Even if the infection subsides after using one of these antibiotics, it is possible that symptoms may return. If symptoms return, a different course of antibiotics is often recommended. In addition to exploring other antibiotics, other forms of treatment can also be considered, especially in cases were complex or recurring cases of C. diff persist. Probiotics, or naturally occurring microbes that have properties beneficial to the host, are considered by some doctors to help restore a proper bacterial balance in your intestines. Other physicians, however, discourage the use of probiotics on the basis there is not enough clinical data regarding particular formulations of these microbes to guarantee a positive effect.
Surgery is not generally recommended to treat C. difficile infections, but it may become necessary if the colon could be at risk of rupture or perforation. If a patient has been admitted to an intensive care unit, other forms of treatment are not providing relief and there may be a risk of bowel perforation and peritonitis, it may be necessary to remove the portion of the colon that has become affected.
You May Like: Is It Fatigue Or Depression
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Could Altered Gut Bacteria Be A Cause
What causes chronic fatigue syndrome? The answer to this question continues to baffle researchers, so much so that some have even questioned whether the condition exists. Now, a new study by researchers from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, may have shed light on a biological cause, after finding that patients with chronic fatigue have an altered gut microbiome.
Senior author Maureen Hanson, of the Departments of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Microbiology at Cornell, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Microbiome.
Also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis , chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition characterized by extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest.
Aside from persistent fatigue, symptoms used to diagnose ME/CFS include unrefreshing sleep, headache, joint pain, sore throat, tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits, problems with concentration and memory, and severe exhaustion and sickness after exercise or mental exertion.
A diagnosis of CFS may be made if four or more of these symptoms last 6 months or longer.
Other symptoms of the condition may include visual problems, dizziness or fainting, brain fog, and irritable bowel.
Because the symptoms of CFS are very similar to those of other illnesses, the condition can be tricky to diagnose. As such, it is unclear how many people in the United States have CFS, though estimates suggest it affects around .
Also Check: What Type Of Doctor Treats Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Should You Eat To Help A C Diff Infection
Look for probiotic-rich yogurts and kefir in the dairy aisle.
Diet changes will not get rid of a C diff infection, but they may help you manage the diarrhea. One possible change is to add probiotics, which are common in foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, or miso. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, live cultures of friendly bacteria may be helpful for C diff diarrhea.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also says that although there is not much research on the best diet for C diff diarrhea, some studies suggest a diet that includes soluble fiber and reduces insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber foods include:
- Whole wheat in breads and cereals
- Brown rice and other whole grains
You May Like: Nicole Miller Anti Fatigue Mat
How Is It Treated
First, if possible, your doctor will have you stop taking the antibiotic that caused the infection. Your doctor may then treat Clostridioides difficile colitis with an antibiotic other than the one that caused the infection. You will likely take fidaxomicin, metronidazole, or vancomycin. Sometimes the infection comes back a few days after you stop treatment. If this happens, you may be given another antibiotic.
If you have severe diarrhea, you also may be given fluids to prevent dehydration and to make sure you have the right amount of minerals in your blood. Or you may get a medicine called a bile salt binder that can help control the diarrhea.
For people who are not helped by antibiotics, a fecal transplant may be done. This treatment places stool from a donor into the colon of a person who has C. diff infection. The good bacteria in the donor stool helps get rid of the C. diff bacteria and restore health to the colon.
Probiotics, which are bacteria that help keep the natural balance of organisms in the intestines, may be helpful for people who have repeated C. diff infections.
In rare cases, a person might need surgery to remove part of the intestines. This would happen only if you did not get better with antibiotics and you developed a perforation in your intestines.
When To Seek Medical Care For C Diff
If an individual has watery diarrhea, especially after administration of antibiotics or a recent hospitalization, C. difficile colitis should be suspected. Your physician should be notified in order to properly evaluate the diarrhea.
If the symptoms are severe, such as the presence of a high grade fever, severe diarrhea, moderate to severe abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration, hospitalization may be required for supportive care and treatment of the infection.
Also Check: Can Low Hormones Cause Fatigue
Don’t Miss: Extreme Fatigue And Low Blood Pressure
Past Antibiotic Intake Hypothesis In Me/cfs Patients
It is well known that the postnatal and early life use of antibiotics disrupts the neonatal microbiome and is associated with a higher risk of several diseases such as asthma, IBD or type 2 diabetes . Also in adults there is, for example, an increased risk of 13% to develop diabetes after an antibiotic treatment , which supports that changes in the microbiome alter some metabolic conditions. According to a very large retrospective study, one treatment with antibiotics also increases the risk of developing IBD by 84% and with every following treatment there is a 6% higher risk. The researchers were also able to show that the earlier and more frequently antibiotics were taken, the higher was the risk of IBD . IBD is also often mentioned in connection with ME/CFS, although the correlation remains unclear . Interestingly, the mode of delivery influences the amount of antibiotic resistance genes in the microbiome, with vaginally delivered infants appearing to be relatively protected against antibiotic resistance . Berstad and co-workers suggested with their three-set dysbiotic march hypothesis an explanation for the high comorbidity in ME/CFS patients with IBS, as described above .
After the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics massively intruded into medical practice in the 1940s and 1960s . According to a recent report, antibiotics disrupt the bacterial composition in the gut for up to 4 years and to some extent permanently .
Read Also: How Do You Test For Adrenal Fatigue
Clostridia Dopamine And Autism
We have established that infection with Clostridia can impact dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels. Lets talk about how this manifests in psychiatric illnesses in particular.
Research has shown that Clostridia had high concentrations in the urine of children with autism the severity of the autism was directly related to a higher concentration of HVA in the urine as well . There are also dopamine metabolites, 3â3-hydroxypropionic acid and 4-cresol, that have high levels within the urine of both autism and schizophrenia .
An enzyme called dopamine beta-hydroxylase is responsible for changing dopamine into norepinephrine . Children who had autism had lower levels of this enzyme which is drastic for physiological conditions as an excess level of dopamine with low levels of norepinephrine makes the dopamine try to compensate for the lack of norepinephrine . This compensation could possibly cause permanent brain, adrenal glands, and sympathetic nervous system damage if this goes on for a long period of time as it creates free radical damage . This compensation can also cause obsessive, compulsive, stereotypical behaviors as well as reduced exploratory behavior and learning in novel environments .
Recommended Reading: Liver Disease And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Recommended Reading: Can Stress Cause Headaches And Fatigue
