Ampicillin, clindamycin, and cephalosporins are the most common antibiotics associated with this disease in children. Pseudomembranous colitis is rare in infants less than 12 months old because they have protective antibodies from the mother and because the toxin does not cause disease in most infants.

Most cases of pseudomembranous colitis happen while the person is in the hospital because the bacteria can spread from one patient to another.

Risk factors include:

Advanced age
Antibiotic use
Chemotherapy
Medications that suppress the immune system
Recent surgery
Personal history of pseudomembranous colitis

Symptoms: Abdominal cramps, Bloody stools, Low-grade fever, Urge to have a bowel movement and Watery diarrhea

This is the inflammation of the intestinal wall as a result of antibiotic therapy. Pseudomembranous colitis occurs when the normal balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in the colon is disrupted as a consequence of antibiotic therapy.

Causes

The main cause of pseudomembranous colitis is the overgrowth of the organism Clostridium difficile in the intestine, although other organisms may be involved in other cases. The organism proliferates and produces a toxin which is responsible for the foul-smelling diarrhea characteristic of pseudomembranous colitis.

Symptoms

The disease is characterized by foul smelling diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Diarrhea may lead to dehydration and pus and mucus may be seen in the stool. Fatigue, weight loss, and loss of appetite are also commonly seen in patients with the disease. One of the main ways to distinguish the disease from other bowel disorders is the fact that patients with the disease are already sick and look unwell, even before the presentation of symptoms. Anemia, an elevated white blood cell count and low serum albumin may also be indicated in lab tests.

Diagnosis

Recent antibiotic use is one indication for a diagnosis for pseudomembranous colitis, although confirmation required through the use of other lab tests.

Stool sample - stool samples may contain the bacteria Clostridium difficile, pus and mucus.

Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy - this allows a thorough visual inspection of the colon through a special tub fitted with a camera and a light; this will often reveal raised yellow plaques or lesions and swelling, which are characteristics of the disease.

CT scan will show a detailed image of a colon and thickened intestinal walls which is indicative of the disease.

Blood test - an elevated white blood cell count, anemia, and low albumin levels will support the diagnosis.

Treatment

The first step is the termination of the antibiotic which was associated with the development of the disorder. Other antibiotics like Metronidazole and Vancomycin, are used instead. These drugs are effective at reducing the amount of Clostridium difficile and restoring the normal balance of bacteria in the intestine.

Patients who are dehydrated due to diarrhea are placed on IV therapy to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to remove diseased portions of the intestine, to treat infections that get worse and in people who are unresponsive to antibiotics.

Prognosis

The outcome for patients with mild forms of the disease is good. The disease may reoccur in about 15 to 20 percent of cases, which will necessitate another round of antiobiotic therapy.