Definition:
C. diff is the shorthand way of talking about the Clostridium difficile bacteria which can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
C. difficile is especially common in children who have recently been on antibiotics for a prolonged period of time, which can lead to C. difficile colitis, with symptoms that can include:
- watery diarrhea
- fever
- abdominal pain
- nausea
- loss of appetite
Stool cultures or stool antigen detection tests for C. difficile can help determine if your child has a C. difficile infection, which can be treated with antibiotics, including Flagyl (metronidazole). Oral vancomycin is also sometimes used.
Also Known As: c. difficile, clostridium difficile
Alternate Spellings: c diff
Examples:
One complication of being on antibiotics too long or too often is a case of C. diff colitis.
