Daughter Has C-difficile....

My daughter had this also for a number of months before it was diagnosed. She lost several pounds because she had so much diahrrea and could no longer maintain her weight. They did an endoscopy because they thought she had Celiac's disease. Turned out it was a C diff infection (which I tried to tell them from the beginning, but nobody every checked. Her symptoms started when she was on a round of strong antibiotics). I'm not sure what to tell you about the treatment because after they gave her the antibiotics for the C diff infection, hers went away. I guess I would ask how miserable is she? Is she maintaining her weight? Is she dehydrated? If she is not in a health crisis from any of these things, then try giving her probiotics (they make it in a powder that you can add to applesauce or juice) and see if it resolves itself. Have you tried seeing a GI doctor that specializes in these things? The only advice I can offer is that you be persistent. You know your daughter better than anyone and if she is still having issues from it, then you need to continue to ask about it. Unfortunately, these infections are usually caused by antibiotic use (destroying the good flora along with the bad in the stomach), so using more antibiotics to treat it seems counterintuitive (which is why I recommend getting her on probiotics ASAP). It worked for us, but it sounds like it didn't for your daughter. I hope she gets better soon. I remember how scary that time was for us and I don't wish that on anyone. Good luck!

some babies can have colonization- or normal growth- that does not cause them to be ill. If she has been treated twice and is otherwise fine, I would agree with your doctor and just watch her off any further meds.

Ask her doctor about a stool transplant. I've read about it. It's essentially an enema made from a healthy person's stool. This replaces the healthy gut flora. Probiotics would be my first choice, but if that isn't working, ask the doctor about the transplant.

Try a naturopathic doctor. In the meantime, probiotics. Don't just use yogurt; go to Whole Foods or other health food store and buy infant/toddler probiotics. You can just add it to her food or drink. It's a powder.

Hi, TRICIA,

What to do depends on if your daughter is sick or if she is only an asymptomatic carrier of the bacteria. If one randomly checks stools of kids this age, especially in a day care setting, healthy ones or not, up to 70% may be positive at one time or another. This asymptomatic carrier state will resolve spontaneously, without intervention, in over 90% in 4-6 months. Experience with adults would suggest the rate and speed of clearing may be increased with daily probiotic use (Culturelle is the brand I recommend for my patient).

So...basically a healthy kid, growing well, not sick with vomiting or diarrhea, doesn't need treatment.

This is the approach I use with my patients.

Peds doc in northern Michigan

I agree with the Pro-Biotics..ASAP.. Good Luck I hope she gets better soon.

Purchase Florastor for Kids; request it at your drugstore pharmacy. It is a behind-the-counter non-prescription probiotic. C diff can last months and months, since it wipes out the good flora in the digestive tract. I have personally used Florastor for C diff and began feeling better in a week. It may take months to restore her system, but this is an effective approach.