Colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis is another form of colitis that is characterized by the infection of the colon. The only difference in this form of colitis is that it is not caused by the bacterium “Clostridium Difficile”. Patients suffering from this form of colitis report high fever, abdominal pain and offensive smelling stools.

How does Colitis Pseudomembranous set in?

You should know that every bowel has content of normal bacteria in them. When you use antibiotics like clindamycin and cephalosporins, these bacteria are altered. Antibiotics do that by killing off competing bacteria in the intestine, leaving literally no space for bacteria to occupy the nutrients in them. This allows extensive growth of the bacteria which are left in the intestine. The C. Diff bacteria is one such bacteria which intrudes and multiplies in the bowel and also generates a toxin. Diarrhea is caused by this toxin which is the major symptom of Colitis Pseudomembranous.

What are the clinical features of Colitis Pseudomembranous?

The Diarrhea reported by patients suffering from this disease does not usually contain blood. If the patient who has symptoms of this disease takes blood thinners, traces of blood can be found in the stools of such patients. Abdominal pain is almost an inevitable symptom with any form of colitis and colitis pseudomembranous is no different. Patients who suffer from this disease often report high fever and loss of appetite. These two symptoms are so different in magnitude from the ones reported in other forms of colitis that doctors use these as the distinguishing factor from other forms of colitis. Patients who show symptoms of high fever and fatigue are subjected to blood tests and more often than not, the blood tests would indicate lack of Haemoglobin , an elevated WBC count and low albumin count.

How can one treat Colitis Pseudomembranous?

Metronidazole is the drug which is used for treatment of this disease. The standard dosage for patients is to take 400 mg tablets every 8 hours. Oral Vanomycin is another drug treatment which is used very conservatively in the treatment of this disease as it is expensive. Moreover, Vanomycin has the risk of generating quite a few side effects for the patients. Cholestyramine, which is a C. Diff binding resin, is used as an adjunctive therapy for this disease. Probiotic research procedures like Fecal bacteriotherapy are recommended as useful alternatives for the treatment of this disease. In cases where the drug therapy fails, doctors may recommend the patients to get a colectomy. This is a surgical procedure that removes (a resection is performed) part of the colon. The least invasive method of performing the surgery is by means of a laparoscopy done by a laparoscope, through a small incision, referred to as a keyhole, in the abdoman.

Whether your physician decides that surgery is the best method of treatment for your Pseudomembranous Colitisis dependent on many factors that can only be determined by your treating doctor.

Colitis |