The incubation period for C difficile-associated disease is difficult to determine accurately,
diarrhea associated with it may occur within days or up to eight weeks after therapy with medications that alter the gastrointestinal
flora. Infection with C difficile results in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations.
Some systemic complaints
may be cramps
more frequent bowel movements
I. mucusy, watery, or bloody diarrhea
II. up to as many as 30 BMs a day
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- chills
- A hard, tender belly
- rapid heart beat
Systemic manifestations may include
elevated white blood count
dehydration
prerenal azotemia
I. abnormally high
level of nitrogen-type wastes in the bloodstream.
I. occurring when
the systemic response to infection alters organ perfusion,
I. severe complications
of ulcerative colitis. It is characterized by abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, hypovolemia, and a systemic inflammatory
response
- even death in seriously ill patients.
