Cases of pseudomembranous colitis in modern medical practice are relatively rare. The disease is accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane of the large intestine, which is most often associated with prolonged use of antibiotics. What is this disease and what are its symptoms?
Main causes of pseudomembranous colitis
As already mentioned, inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs against the background of antibiotic therapy. It's no secret that antibiotics inhibit the activity of almost all microorganisms that inhabit the intestines. But the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile endures the effects of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. In the absence of competition, these pathogens begin to multiply rapidly, releasing their waste products - toxins that irritate the tissues of the large intestine, causing inflammation.
Lead to the development of pseudomembranous colitis can take almost any antibacterial drug. However, inIn most cases, the disease occurs during treatment with drugs such as Ampicillin, Clindamycin, less often - Erythromycin, Levomycetin, Penicillin, Trimethoprim and Erythromycin.
In addition to long-term use of antibiotics, there are other risk factors, such as intestinal ischemia, surgery, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation.
What are the symptoms of colitis?
Most often, the first signs of the disease appear two weeks after the start of antibiotics. Much less often, the disease develops after treatment is stopped. Fever and cramping abdominal pain are the first symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis.
In addition, diarrhea is an integral part of the clinical picture. The stools may be watery with a characteristic greenish tint and a fetid odor. In more severe cases, blood may be seen in the stool. Together with feces, membranous material is released, which is clots of mucus and fibrin - this is an important symptom for diagnosis.
It is worth noting that pseudomembranous enterocolitis is an extremely dangerous disease, especially if the patient is not provided with appropriate assistance. In the most severe cases, intestinal perforation is possible.
How is pseudomembranous colitis treated?
Of course, first of all, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, take it for analysisblood and stool samples, as this is the only way to confirm the presence of the disease. Antibiotics should be discontinued (the only exceptions are those cases where the abolition of such treatment would threaten the patient's life). In the early stages, discontinuation of antibiotic therapy may lead to a complete recovery.
Of course, it is extremely important to maintain the water-electrolyte balance in the body, as diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Treatment of enterocolitis in adults sometimes includes taking Metronidazole or Vancomycin - sometimes only the use of these drugs helps to get rid of anaerobic bacteria - the causative agents of the disease. In addition, it is necessary to repopulate the intestines with beneficial microorganisms. For this purpose, the drugs "Linex", "Bifiform" and some others are used. Intestinal perforation and other complications require surgical intervention.
