Should I see a doctor?

August 22, 2011 4:43 PM

Antibiotics filter: A few months ago, I took Clindomycin for a tooth infection. One of the potential side effects is Clostridium difficil, a type of colitis. Now I am sick and worried that it might be connected to the Clindomycin. Should I be worried and go to the doctor? Gross symptoms inside.

Symptoms include: diarreah, fever, sleepiness. How bad do the symptoms need to be before seeing a doctor?

posted by Equiprimordial to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

How long have you had the diarrhea? If it's more than 3 days, see a doctor.
posted by phunniemee at 4:51 PM on August 22, 2011

Short answer: Yes, call your doctor.

Long answer: How many bowel movements are you having each day? Patients with C. diff often have more than 3 a day. Do you notice a very foul odor in the stool? That's the hallmark of C. diff. Even if you don't have these exacts symptoms, you have diarrhea and a fever, which in itself warrants a call to the doc.
posted by pecanpies at 4:52 PM on August 22, 2011

It's Clindamycin, with an a..might want to fix the tag. If you have a fever for more than a day or two, I'd see a doctor, just to be safe.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 4:55 PM on August 22, 2011

Response by poster: Only had it for one day. Doesn't seem to smell that bad. Thanks!
posted by Equiprimordial at 4:55 PM on August 22, 2011

C.diff usually manifests in the setting of acute antibiotic administration, not a few months prior, so it's unlikely. If the diarrhea persists however, an urgent care visit is warranted due to the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
posted by Asherah at 4:58 PM on August 22, 2011 [2 favorites]

C Difficile colitis is called 'pseudo-membranous' for a reason; if, but not only if, you see odd veil-like objects in the toilet, go to the doctor.
posted by jamjam at 5:03 PM on August 22, 2011

I got a case of something like that from a round of Prilosec. (I guess the acid in the stomach kills bad things?)

What fixed me up was: Panda Express (lots of rice and veggies) and yoghurt. If you have even a hint of lactose intolerance, take lactaid tablets with ANYTHING that might contain lactose.
posted by gjc at 5:10 PM on August 22, 2011

Best answer: I'm not a gastroenterologist nor an infectious disease doc, but a few points...first, C. diff colitis does not show up months after antibiotic exposure, it would be much sooner. Second, it's been a while, but I believe the 'pseudomembranous colitis' term refers to the appearance of the colon on barium enema. Third, colitis as a disease term implies diarrhea with fever and obvious blood in the stool, which it does not sound like you have. Fourth, if you're living in North America, we're smack in the dab of enterovirus season (July-Sept/Oct) and that is a far more likely cause of gastroenteritis ("infectious vomiting and/or diarrhea). Fifth, if you're not keeping up with fluids or not better within a day or two, you should see your doctor. Good luck, and always know where the nearest toilet is.
posted by jhs at 5:43 PM on August 22, 2011

My mom ended up with C. diff in the same way. I asked a question about it here and got some great responses.

Yes, go to the doctor. Go now.
posted by futureisunwritten at 5:59 PM on August 22, 2011

My partner had C. Difficile colitis, veil-like objects in her stools, and was told by her doctor those veils were manifestations of the pseudo-membranous nature of the disease.
posted by jamjam at 7:27 PM on August 22, 2011

I did a course of Clindo in mid-June and developed diarrhea at around day 8 of a 10-day course. This was a red flag because of the proximity of the Clindo and the diarrhea and I was tested for C-Dif. The thing that made it look less likely that it was C-Dif was that I wasn't having a fever and in fact it wasn't C-Dif; just AAD (antibiotic-associate diarrhea due to my intestinal flora being killed off- I had this after a course of Erythromycin in grad school, 19 years ago, and now get it at least for a few days every time I take an antibio). But mine lasted for four weeks. Horrible.

So not all post-antibiotic diarrhea is C-Dif. HOWEVER, in rare instances, C-Dif CAN occur as late as two months after a course of Clindo, you do have a fever, so I'd get tested if it doesn't go away soon- like in a day soon.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:00 PM on August 22, 2011

My 4 yr old nephew wound up with C. diff after some repeated rounds of antibiotics for ear and sinus infections (poor guy...he was a sick little booger!). I didn't witness it but my mom said the smell was just off the chain. He would also be eating and have sharp stomach pains that wouldn't always result in immediate diarrhea, but he definitely had diarrhea. They diagnosed with a stool sample for confirmation, the gave him some sort of medication and some probiotics to get straightened out. Now he's all good (but the transition to kindergarten has not been kind).

Yours may be C. Diff, or it may be that the antibiotics got your intestines all out of whack. keep yourself hydrated, try some Activita and Yoplait yogurt (recommended by the doc for having the 'good bacteria' in both), and if it goes on for another day or two see a doc. Sometimes your guts just need a day or two to settle back down.
posted by MultiFaceted at 10:22 PM on August 22, 2011