Clostridium difficile infection was first identified in 1978 as the infection that is caused by antibiotic medication. It is an infection of the large intestine (colon), and is less responsive to treatment. This condition mostly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities. In the US, more than 2 lakh people are getting infected with this particular disease in hospitals, this condition has just improved in previous years by improving the initial preventive measures. Moreover, in the last few years more than 1 lakh infections occur annually from the outside of hospitals and are still increasing day by day. In this article, we are going to discuss the pathophysiology,symptoms and ayurvedic treatment of Clostridium difficile infection is mentioned in Classical texts.
Introduction
This Clostridium difficile infection specifically results by the disturbance of normal bacterial flora of large intestine, where this bacteria called C. difficile make colonizations and release some harmful substances that results in damage of mucosal layer and causes inflammation and damage to the intestine. The main cause is the antibiotics that play the key factor to alter the colonic flora mainly found in hospitalised patients. This disease can be life-threatening but it can also range from mild to severe. Symptoms are like watery diarrhoea of about 3-4 times a day for a few days and pain in stomach, cramps or having tenderness on the localised part. When this condition gets severe symptoms and stool may be fixed with pus or bleeding that shows the infection in the colonic tissue. If you are suffering from diarrhoeal symptoms caused by C. difficile are very severe then go and get some medical help from an Ayurvedic practitioner which can give you wonderful results by relieving your condition and Ayurvedic medication does not give any Side-effects.
Causes and Risk Factors
The main cause is Clostridium Difficile that exists all around us in air, water, soil and can affect humans and animals too. This bacteria is not in active form as it can live on the surface in the form of spores but turns active when you swallow them and enter into the intestines. Some people can even carry this bacteria in their intestines without getting any harm. But for some people it may lodge in the intestine and release toxins that attack the intestines.
New strains always give stronger effects that are more difficult to treat with medications. This bacteria usually spreads from hospitals, nursing homes, or in those workers that frequently come in contact with patients and their attendants. Bacterial infections can even spread from clothings, sheets, faeces and also by touching the mouth or nose of the patient.
Patients who are on higher doses of antibiotics are always the first to get infected. Some of the common antibiotics that have higher risk to cause C. diff infection
- Penicillins
- Cephalosporins
- Fluoroquinolones
- Clindamycin
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Symptoms
Symptoms can range from
mild to severe.
Mild symptoms may include
- Watery stool - 3-4 times a day for a few days
- Blood mixed stool
- Large intestines get inflamed
- Tissue in the large intestine can bleed and may release pus
- Diarrhoea may extend up to 10 times a day
- Severe pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
- Tachycardia
- Sepsis
- Patients can become severely dehydrated due to increased diarrhoeal episodes.
- This loss of fluids can affect your Blood Pressure, Kidney functions and overall health may be hampered severely.
- It can also develop Toxic Megacolon in which the colon is dilated and filled with gas and stool or may lead to swelling and rupture or lands into life threatening condition.
- Bowel perforation can also lead by the large intestine and allows the bacteria to escape into the peritoneal cavity resulting in peritonitis.
Severe symptoms may include
This condition may cause severe complications like
Treatment
As we already know, this condition is the adverse effect of Antibiotics which can be relieved by Ayurvedic medications. In Allopathy medicines this disease is managed by some other antibiotics and those antibiotics may further create any other complication that also results in a harmful state for the body. Here are some herbal medications that are used to treat this infection given by Planet Ayurveda and prepared by the ethnic way that is described in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures.
Herbal formulations for clostridium difficile infection by Planet Ayurveda
Planet Ayurveda is a herbal manufacturing company that is GMP certified and prepares 100% natural products. These medications are prepared by the ancient methods that are given by respective Acharyas. Moreover, Ayurvedic preparations that are produced by traditional methods are free from harmful chemicals, any kind of side effects, fillers or dyes. Some of the efficient herbal formulations are
- Hakam Chrna
- Boswellia+curcumin
- Kaishore Guggul
- Vikramprash
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1. Kutajghan Vati
This is a single herbal formulation explained by Acharyas in classical Ayurvedic texts consisting of kutaj(Holarrhena antidysenterica), mainly given in digestive disorders, As its name suggests it specially given to control the diarrhoea frequency. It also shows wonderful effects to stop the bleeding and helps to maintain the healthy digestive tract.
Dosage 1-2 tablets twice or thrice daily with lukewarm water.
2. Vatsakadi Churna
This is a polyherbal formulation given by planet Ayurveda consisting of kutaj (Holarrhena antidysenterica), bilwa (Aegle marmelos). These both herbs are helpful for GI Tract disorders and give marvellous results in reducing the stool frequency and blood mixed stool. Both herbs are helpful in maintaining the healthy intestines.
Dosage : 1 teaspoon (3 to 6 grams) of the powder shall be consumed with water.
3. Mahashankh Vati
This is a polyherbal formulation mentioned in classical Ayurvedic texts consisting of shunti (Zingiber officinalis), pippali (Piper longum) etc. These herbs are helpful in rejuvenating the damaged part of various organs, and also supports the GI musculature and also diminishes the various symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, etc.
Dosage : 1-2 tablets twice daily with lukewarm water.
4. Arjuna Capsules
This is a single herbal formulation that is given by planet ayurveda consisting of arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) that gives efficient results in maintaining the good blood flow to every part of the body. This has great healing properties, works as an antidote for various diseases, it pacifies pitta and kapha doshas and also improves general debility.
Dosage : 1-2 Capsules twice daily, with plain water, after meals.5. Praval Panchamrit
This is a herbo-mineral formulation consisting of Praval (Coral) bhasma, mukta shukti (pearl) bhasma that supports the digestive tract and balances Vata and Kapha disorders, maintains healthy bowel movements which helps to control the diarrhoeal motions and many other abdominal issues.
Dosage : 1 to 2 tablets with plain water twice daily.
Conclusion
As we have discussed in this above article this particular condition is caused by adverse effects of antibiotics. In allopathy there are many medicines that give side effects and may harm our healthy body tissues unknowingly. In that condition we use Ayurvedic medications that never show any kind of adverse effects or any harm to the healthy tissue. Even Ayurvedic medications help to rejuvenate the damaged tissue.
