Do I Have Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea?

Are you taking or have you recently taken antibiotics?

Did your symptoms appear about a week after you started taking antibiotics?

Did your symptoms appear a few days after the end of antibiotic treatment?

Do you have loose stools?

Do you have watery stools?

Do you have more-frequent bowel movements than usual (three or more times a day)?

Do you have lower abdominal pain and cramping?

Do you have a low-grade fever?

Do you have nausea?

Do you have loss of appetite?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have an antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a medical condition characterized by loose, watery stools, which occur three or more times a day after taking antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea usually begins a few days after starting antibiotic therapy. Almost all types of antibiotics can cause diarrhea, but the most common causes of diarrhea are cephalosporins and penicillins. In rare cases, antibiotic-associated diarrhea may occur several days after the end of antibiotic treatment. Mild symptoms usually characterize this condition, so it does not require treatment.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have an antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a common adverse effect of antibiotic treatment. It affects about 5 to 30 percent of people during antibiotic therapy. The exact cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is still unknown. It is believed that antibiotics disturb the natural balance of good and bad bacteria in your intestines, which leads to a change in the composition of your stool. Sometimes antibiotic-associated diarrhea can be severe, characterized by copious and frequent watery stools accompanied by abdominal cramps. In this case, your doctor may recommend stopping antibiotic therapy or switching antibiotics.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have an antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). AAD is a condition characterized by loose, frequent stools due to the use of antibiotics. An antibiotic is an antibacterial medication that destroys both "bad" and "good" bacteria in your intestines. If the antibiotic destroys too many "good" bacteria in the intestine, there is a possibility that aggressive "bad" bacteria will multiply out of control. One type of such "bad" bacteria is Clostridium difficile, which produces irritating chemicals that can damage the intestinal wall. Diagnosing is based on your symptoms, the fact that you are using antibiotics, and a stool test.