Clostridium difficile - Symptoms 

The symptoms of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection can include:

• mild to severe diarrhoea
• blood-stained stools
• fever
• cramps in the abdomen (tummy)

These symptoms are usually caused by inflammation (swelling and irritation) of the lining of the large intestine (bowel). In rare cases, C. difficile can cause an infection of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis), blood poisoning (septicaemia) and tears in the large intestine (perforation of the colon).

Most people who get a C. difficile infection have symptoms while they are taking antibiotics. However, symptoms can appear up to 10 weeks after you finish taking antibiotics.