Antibiotic causing Diarrhea: Pseudo-membranous Colitis

A 48 years old male was having acute respiratory tract infections. He was prescribed a course of antibiotics by his physician. After having those antibiotics for a few days, his respiratory tract infection subsided but a new problem arose.

He developed gastrointestinal disorder which is characterized by mild abdominal pain and Diarrhea. He continued having those antibiotics thinking that it might help him to get rid of both; acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. But things kept getting worse.This condition is called Pseudo-membranous colitis; a gastrointestinal disease, which occurs due to administration of antibiotics and may get life-threatening if necessary steps are not taken.

Antibiotics those are responsible:

Any kind of antibiotic may cause this. But these are most susceptible to cause Pseudo-membranous Colitis:

• Ampicillin
• Amoxicillin
• Cephalosporin
• Clindamycin
• Doxycycline

Why this happens:

There are two main reasons for which this may result in. These are:

• Microbial Cause: Caused by Bacterium Clostridium difficile.
• Dietary Cause: Fermentation of carbohydrates in the intestine.

How this happens:

Prolong or inappropriate administration of antibiotics causes destruction of normal intestinal flora, which is nothing but essential bacteria of the intestine. As they are destroyed, pathogenic Clostridium difficile gets upper hand. They infiltrate, reside, multiply and then secrete two types of toxins. These are Toxin-A and Toxin-B. These two are responsible for causing the disease.

Who are most prone to suffer:

People who are most susceptible to suffer from this disease are:

• Elderly people.
• Malnourished people.
• Very weak people.
• Hospitalized people (nosocomial infection) .

Sign and Symptoms:

The characteristic features of Pseudo-membranous colitis:

• It starts after having antibiotics for 6 to 8 weeks.
• Patients have watery stool.
• Stool color becomes altered to Greenish yellow.
• Stool has offensive smell.
• Patient develops pain in lower abdomen.

In severe cases:

• Patient may have 30 to 40 times defecation per day.
• Rise of body temperature up to 104 degree or more.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Increased white blood cell in blood.

Hazards of untreated cases:

If left untreated, this may lead to:

• Gross loss of body fluid.
• Electrolyte imbalance.
• Toxic mega colon.
• Perforation of colon.
• Death.

Diagnosis:

Some important examination which are performed to diagnose the disease:

• Examination of Stool: On microscopic examination the microbes and their toxins are detected.
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: In case of severe cases it is performed to examine the large intestine.

How can we get rid of it:

We can easily keep us out of it by following these measures:

• We should not take any antibiotics without consulting a Doctor.
• Discontinuing the antibiotic if signs of abdominal discomfort arise.
• Notifying the Doctor as soon as possible.

Antibiotics are so much important drugs to fight infection. But one person may be allergic to specific group of drugs. So, he/ she may develop some sort of allergic reaction or super-infection if that group of drugs is used. To get rid of this sort of problems one must notify the physician or doctor as soon as possible. Because hiding may be the other name of self-killing.