HOMOETHYSIS FOR CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION | HOMOEOPATHY FOR CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION

The bacterium Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, can cause a wide range of symptoms, from diarrhea to potentially fatal colon inflammation.

Although studies show rising rates of C. difficile infection among people traditionally not considered high risk, such as younger and healthy individuals without a history of antibiotic use or exposure to healthcare facilities, the illness from C. difficile most frequently affects older adults in hospitals or long-term care facilities and typically occurs after use of antibiotic medications.

The number of C. difficile infections has increased in frequency, severity, and difficulty of treatment in recent years, infecting about a half million people annually in the United States.

Some healthy people naturally carry the bacteria in their large intestine and don’t experience any negative effects from the infection, but C. difficile bacteria are widely distributed in the environment and can be found in soil, air, water, human and animal feces, and food products, including processed meats.

When infected individuals don’t thoroughly wash their hands, the spores from the C. difficile bacteria are passed in feces and spread to food, objects, and surfaces. Because these spores can linger in a space for weeks or months, if you touch a surface that has been contaminated, you risk unknowingly ingesting the bacteria.

When you take an antibiotic to treat an infection, these medications tend to destroy some of the normal, helpful bacteria in addition to the bacteria causing the infection, which means that without enough healthy bacteria to keep it in check, C. difficile can quickly grow out of control. Your intestines contain about 100 trillion bacterial cells and up to 2,000 different kinds of bacteria, many of which help protect your body from infection.

Once established, C. difficile can produce toxins that attack the lining of the intestine, which can result in watery diarrhea and patches (plaques) of inflamed and decomposing cells inside the colon.

Emergence of a new strain

Since 2000, several outbreaks of illness have been linked to an aggressive strain of Clostridium difficile that produces significantly more toxins than other strains do, may be more drug resistant, and has been found in people who have not received antibiotics or been hospitalized.

SymptomsThe signs and symptoms of C. difficile infection usually appear five to ten days after beginning an antibiotic course, but they can appear as early as the first day or up to two months later. -Some people carry the bacterium C. difficile in their intestines but never become ill, though they may still spread the infection.

Mild to moderate infection

mild to moderate C. difficile infection most frequently manifests as:

Three or more episodes of watery diarrhea per day lasting at least two days.

A mild discomfort and tightness in the abdomen

Severe infection

C. difficile causes colitis, an inflammation of the colon, and can occasionally cause raw tissue patches that can bleed or produce pus (pseudomembranous colitis). In severe cases, people tend to become dehydrated and may require hospitalization.

Ten to fifteen times per day, watery diarrhea

Potentially excruciating cramping and pain in the abdomen

· Rapid heart rate

· Fever

Stools containing pus or blood

· Nausea

· Dehydration

· Loss of appetite

· Weight loss

· Swollen abdomen

· Kidney failure

A rise in the number of white blood cells

Risk factors–Although C. difficile has caused illness in people, including kids, without any known risk factors, some things make you more likely to contract it.

Taking antibiotics or other medications

Medication-associated risk factors include:

Antibiotics are being taken now or were taken recently.

Using antibiotics with a broad spectrum that are effective against many different bacteria.

· Using multiple antibiotics

the prolonged use of antibiotics

Using acid-reducing drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors, to lower stomach acid

However, studies show rising rates of community-associated C. difficile infection, which affects groups typically not considered high risk, such as children and people without a history of antibiotic use or recent hospitalization. C. difficile infection is most frequently associated with health care and recent antibiotic use, occurring in hospitals and other health care facilities where a much higher percentage of people carry the bacteria.

A stay at a medical facility

In hospitals and nursing homes, C. difficile spreads primarily on hands from person to person, but it can also be found on cart handles, bedrails, bedside tables, toilets, sinks, stethoscopes, thermometers, even telephones and remote controls. The majority of C. difficile cases occur in, or after exposure to, health care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

being affected by a severe condition or undergoing surgery

You’re more likely to contract a C. difficile infection if you’ve had gastrointestinal surgery or abdominal surgery, if you have inflammatory bowel disease, if you have colorectal cancer, if you have a compromised immune system from a medical condition or treatment (such as chemotherapy), or if you have any other serious illness.

In one study, people age 65 and older had a 10-fold increased risk of contracting C. difficile infection compared to younger individuals, making older age another risk factor for the infection.

Your likelihood of developing a subsequent infection with C. difficile can increase with each infection by as much as 20% after you’ve already had one.

Complications–Infections with C. difficile can result in the following complications:

Dehydration.Your body has a difficult time functioning normally and may experience dangerously low blood pressure levels as a result of severe diarrhea, which can result in a significant loss of fluids and electrolytes.

Kidney failure.Dehydration can sometimes happen so quickly that it results in kidney failure (rapid decline in kidney function).

Toxic megacolon.A ruptured or enlarged colon necessitates emergency surgery and may be fatal. In this uncommon condition, your colon is unable to expel gas and stool, leading to a greatly enlarged colon (megacolon).

A hole in your large intestine (bowel perforation).A perforated bowel can spill bacteria from the intestine into your abdominal cavity, resulting in a life-threatening infection (peritonitis). This is uncommon and results from significant damage to the lining of your large intestine or after toxic megacolon.

Death.If not treated right away, even minor to moderate C. difficile infections can develop into a fatal condition.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

There are many effective medicines available in homoeopathy for treating C. diff infection, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking into account the mental and emotional state as well as spiritual as well as physical health. Homoeopathy is a rapidly expanding system that is practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical levels.

There is a constant urge to pass stool but only little passes. The stool is hot, bloody, offensive, with cutting pain accompanying the passage of stool. After passing the stool, the urge reappears and the patient gets no satisfaction. Much tenesmus, which is not relieved by stool. The abdomen is bloated and painful to least. **MERCURIUS CORROSIVUS 30-**Merc cor is one of the excellent remedies for C. diff infection where blood and mucus are passed along with stool.

There is much tenesmus, burning pain and pressure in the rectum and anus, as well as gnawing, burning pain in the abdomen like coals of fire, which is relieved by heat. The stool is scanty, offensive, dark with much prostration. **ARSENICUM ALBUM 30-**Arsenic alb is another effective medication for C. diff infection where the stool is offensive, mixed with blood.

PHOSPHORUS 30Infections caused by C. diff are best treated with phosphorus when the patient prefers cold beverages, ice cream, and juicy foods and the stool is offensive, containing blood and greenish mucus and getting worse in the morning.

ARGENTUM NITRICUM 30-Argentum nitricum is prescribed for C. diff with gastric ailments that cause a lot of belching, a lot of abdominal distension, and a strong desire for sweets, cheese, and salty foods. Patients with this condition are also more prone to diarrhea, which can be noisy, flatulent, and offensive in its stools. They also tend to be impulsive and nervous.

ALOEO SOCOTRINA 30Aloes is the best remedy for rectus pressure that is constant.

BAPTISIA TIN QIndicators of baptism include fever, loose stools, fetid stools, fullness and distension of the abdomen, and soreness in the abdominal muscles when pressure is applied.

COLOCYNTHIS 30Cutting pains and cramping that force a person to lie down and press on their abdomen are signs of colocynthis. The pain is likely to be worse just before the diarrhea stops, as well as right after consuming fruit or water.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200Lycopodium is prescribed when there is weakening of the digestive system. Patients of lycopodium prefer sweets and hot food and drinks. Immediately following a meal, the abdomen feels bloated and distended. There is a constant feeling of fermentation in the abdomen.

NUX VOMICA 30Nux vomica should be taken when constipation alternates with diarrhea, there is frequent, futile urging for stools, hard straining at stools, an incomplete feeling after stools, and colicky abdominal pain.

PULSATILLA NIG. 30Indications for pulsatilla include painful abdominal distension, rumbling, pressure, tightness after meals, watery, rumbling stools, and irregular stools. Milder yielding individuals are more likely to benefit from pulsatilla.