Warning Signs Of A C. Difficile Infection

Nausea

There are several reasons why an individual may experience nausea, including several infections caused by countless types of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Nausea occurs when some mechanism in an individual's body triggers the activation of a part of their brain referred to as the nausea center. An individual with a C. difficile infection in their digestive tract can experience an activation of their nausea center because it produces widespread inflammation. When the digestive tract becomes inflamed, the muscles around the organs can contract involuntarily. In addition, food can stagnate, and intestines can become obstructed. All of these mechanisms can activate the nausea center, which causes the patient to feel like they need to vomit.

Discover additional warning signs linked to C. difficile infections now.

Fever

When an individual becomes infected by C. difficile bacteria, they may experience a fever. A fever means their body temperature has increased above what is considered a normal and healthy level. When an individual's immune system detects a foreign pathogen in the body, it induces several changes to eliminate it. This includes an increase in the body temperature and dilation of the blood vessels.

A fever is meant to make the individual's body an inhospitable environment for the bacteria to keep it from reproducing and surviving. Upon detecting a foreign pathogen, the immune system sends signals to the brain that trigger action by the body's thermostat in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus increases the thermostat temperature, allowing the body to become warmer than it would otherwise. This mechanism occurs in patients with a C. difficile infection because their body is trying to eliminate the bacteria.

Read more about the symptoms of a C. difficile infection now.