Diarrhea

One infection that causes diarrhea can arise when a harmful bacteria proliferates in the colon. This bacterium, named clostridium difficile, is normally present in small amounts in the colon but never as a large collection.

"C. diff." bacteria commonly grow and multiply after antibiotic treatment has killed and cleared away some harmless bacteria types in the colon. Many commonly used antibiotics leave C. difficile living even though they kill other bacteria types in the colon. If C. diff. becomes the dominant bacteria type in the colon, it can cause inflammation and symptoms.

Have you been treated with antibiotics at any time in the past six weeks?

Yes, I have recently been treated with antibiotics.

No, I have not been treated with antibiotics.