Pseudomembranous colitis is a bacterial infection of the colon caused by the overgrowth of Clostridium difficile bacteria. Pseudomembranous colitis usually occurs after antibiotic use. The Clostridium difficile bacteria is normally present in your colon; however, an overgrowth is possible when you take antibiotics. Your doctor may advise you to eat certain foods to enable your colon to heal.
Food
The doctor may advise you to eat easy-to-digest foods, such as clear broth, rice, bananas, apple sauce, gelatin and strained fruit juice, when you have pseudomembranous colitis. Avoid irritating foods, such as fried and spicy foods, because they may worsen diarrhea. Try and eat several meals a day instead of three large meals. Spacing meals helps reduce symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis.
Fluids
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water to help replace fluids lost through frequent diarrhea. Lack of water intake may cause dehydration. Avoid caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee. Caffeine stimulates the colon and may worsen diarrhea. Caffeine is also a diuretic and may cause further loss of fluids.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to beneficial bacteria found in your intestines. Probiotics may help prevent the overgrowth of Clostridium difficile bacteria, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You can obtain probiotics from foods such as yogurt, fermented milk, buttermilk, soy beverages, miso and tempeh.
Symptoms
Pseudomembranous colitis causes symptoms such as abdominal pain and cramping, constant urge to have a bowel movement, watery diarrhea, bloody stools, fever and chills. Untreated pseudomembranous colitis can lead to perforation of the colon and bleeding, dehydration and toxic megacolon, according to MayoClinic.com. Toxic megacolon causes life-threatening distension of the colon. Seek early treatment to avoid these complications.
