Clostridioides difficile, otherwise known as C. diff, is a fairly common infection by a bacterium of the same name. This infection can often occur in a hospital or long-term care setting due to the fact that it can be caused by antibiotic use, although a person can contract C. diff without being on antibiotics and without being in those particular settings. Other ways of contracting C. diff are through the mouth, by way of different things like food, unwashed hands, and unsanitary surfaces. There are four types of antibiotics that are typically implicated in causing C. diff: Clindamycin, cephalosporins, penicillins, and fluoroquinolones. Proton pump inhibitors like Nexium or Prilosec can also increase a person’s risk of contracting C. diff.

The symptoms of C. diff can range from mild to severe, with mild symptoms being more common. The most common symptoms associated with C. diff are watery diarrhea happening three or more times per day for at least one day, and mild abdominal cramping. Although uncomfortable, these symptoms are typically not cause for alarm. However, if symptoms become more severe, such as watery diarrhea three or more times a day for multiple days, symptoms lasting more than a week, fever, severe abdominal cramping, or blood in your stool, it is recommended to see a doctor to make sure all is well.

Diarrhea can cause a person to become dehydrated at a rapid rate, so if you begin experiencing what you think may be a C. diff infection, remember to keep hydrated to avoid severe symptoms of dehydration.