CDI Symptoms: What to Watch For and When to Act

When you have a Clostridioides difficile, a bacteria that causes severe gut infections, often after antibiotic use. Also known as C. diff, it’s not just a stomach bug—it’s a serious infection that can turn dangerous fast. The most common sign? Watery diarrhea that won’t quit. Not the kind you get from bad sushi or too much coffee. This is frequent, sometimes explosive, and often smells awful—like a barn or rotten eggs. If you’ve been on antibiotics recently, especially clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, or amoxicillin, and now you’re having three or more loose stools a day for two days straight, that’s not normal. That’s your body screaming for attention.

But diarrhea isn’t the only warning. abdominal pain, cramping or tenderness in the lower belly, often intense and persistent is another red flag. It’s not just a rumble—it feels like sharp, gripping pressure. Fever above 101°F, loss of appetite, nausea, and feeling weak or dizzy? Those aren’t side effects of a cold. They’re signs your gut is under siege. In severe cases, you might see blood or pus in your stool, or your belly swells up like a balloon. That’s not gas. That’s toxic megacolon, a life-threatening complication where the colon swells and stops working. It’s rare, but if you’re in the hospital or recovering from surgery and suddenly can’t pass gas or stool, get help immediately.

Who’s most at risk? People over 65, those on long-term antibiotics, or anyone in a hospital or nursing home. But it’s not just the elderly. Even healthy adults can catch it after a course of amoxicillin or a hospital stay. The infection spreads through spores—tiny, tough particles that survive on doorknobs, bed rails, and even your phone. Washing hands with soap and water (not just sanitizer) is your best defense. But if you’re already sick, knowing the symptoms early can save you from a longer hospital stay, a colostomy, or worse.

The posts below cover real-world cases, how doctors spot CDI early, what treatments actually work, and why some meds make it worse. You’ll find clear advice on when to push for a stool test, how to avoid spreading it to others, and what to do if symptoms come back after treatment. This isn’t guesswork. It’s what people who’ve been through it—and the doctors who treat them—actually know.