4 doctors weighed in:

Eat healthy. Exercise. Avoid smoking. Why did I get clostridium (c diff) infection?

4 doctors weighed in

Want a second opinion?

C diff: bacteria that normally lives in many peoples colons.

Can be dormant (spores). When "peaceful co-existence" is unbalanced, c diff can overgrow, make toxin, cause watery diarrhea that can become severe; could get worse, even life threatening. Factors include antibiotic (ab) use (even 2mos previously), recent nursing home/ hosp adm, ibd, preg, contact with. Wash hands, no ab unless needed.Rx. Would you like to video or text chat with me?

Clostridium difficile is present in the normal colon.

Disease often occurs when antibiotics wipe out other normally present bacteria and allow cl. Diff to multiply and produce toxins which damage the bowel wall. It has nothing to do with smoking or diet directly. Would you like to video or text chat with me?