6 year old child with c-diff

[dia]

Hello,

My son is 6 years old and got diagnosed with c-diff 3 weeks ago. He took course of antibiotics and woke up with a really bad diarrhea with lots of blood and mucus in his stool. I took him to emergency and he got diagnosed with c-diff. He took Flagyl for 10 days and was doing good while he was taking but developed diarrhea with blood 3 days later. I took him to Emergency again. One doctor gave us prescription for Valco (I'm reading that it has a really bad side effects). Then we saw a different doctor who said that C-Diff is very common in children and we can just wait and see if it gets better on it's own. She said that he flora needs to change and he will get better on his own without antibiotics. I'm giving him lots of probiotics and yogurt (5 times a day). He is much better after 5 days but still some mucus and diarrhea. I'm waiting to see pediatrician next week. I'm reading about Dificid and looks like it has fewer side effects. I will ask my doctor if he can take that. Anyone have a child with C-Diff? What to do?

[Ali-Mar]

Hi Dia,
I am so sorry to hear your son has C Diff. Flagyl is no longer recommended for C Diff as the first line of treatment where Vanco and Difcid are available. Dificid seems to has a less recurrence rate and it is less harmful on the got flora I read online. I hope he will get better soon

See the following Videos for more info :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71grD1ADzsE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qvir3La6zg

[beth22]

Hello Dia and welcome to the site. You can find more information for new posters in the first forum.

Flagyl has way more side effects than vanco and is usually not given for c difficile anymore. Vanco IV has the side effects, but the liquid or capsule only stays in the intestines. We have had other children who have taken it according to parents who posted, with good results. I don't know if Dificid is given to children yet. Your pediatrician would know for sure. If he is doing well without any more antibiotics, then it might be prudent to wait, but again, that is a doctor's call and should be addressed with the pediatrician.

I hope he improves soon. All the children that I have read about on this site, eventually got better.

[Ali-Mar]

I think I read on one of the posts on this site that Dificid was approved for children age 6 month and order by FDA in 2019

[roy]

Vanco has far less side effects than flagyl and dificid has now been approved for use in children.
His symptoms indicate he should be on treatment NOW.
The cautions about c.diff being common in children apply to those under 2 years old and without symptoms.
At 6 and with symptoms your Dr should be treating.
Flagyl is still used for children but is probably not the best med.
Vanco is probably the med to be used.

[Bobbie]

Dia,
I emphathize. In 1997, our then 3 year old son developed c diff. He was the youngest and one of the first people on Vanco, He had three relapses and then was OK. Frightening! We lost our pediatrician, who would not listen to me when I told him something was wrong but had a great ped. GI. I would consult one. Ours saved our son’s life.

Our son had c diff once again in 6th grade. He is now 46. I still remember those scary days,

Am glad u found us. Keep posting.

[dia]

Thank you for your answers. We are waiting to re-test him next week. He is taking lots of yogurt and probiotics (no sugar diet) and doing much better. As soon as he stops probiotics he starts to have symptoms. We are waiting for the specialist appointment. I'm worried that he is not going to be take antibiotics in the future. Do they do FMT for kids?

[dia]

Bobbie wrote:
> Dia,
> I emphathize. In 1997, our then 3 year old son developed c diff. He was
> the youngest and one of the first people on Vanco, He had three relapses
> and then was OK. Frightening! We lost our pediatrician, who would not
> listen to me when I told him something was wrong but had a great ped. GI.
> I would consult one. Ours saved our son’s life.
>
> Our son had c diff once again in 6th grade. He is now 46. I still remember
> those scary days,
>
> Am glad u found us. Keep posting.

I'm so glad to hear your success story. How scary when kids are sick. Is your son able to take antibiotics now? Was he able to take antibiotics when he was growing up? I'm worried for my son that he is not going to be able to take antibiotics when he needs them because of c-Diff.

[Bobbie]

Dia,
My son developed c diff again in 6th grade but recovered quickly. We were very careful about antibiotics - especially broad spectrum ones. He was able to tolerate a z pak several times. There is a list of low offending antibiotics on this site.

I have had problems c diff several times - many years after my son’s cases - and could tolerate a z pakl. Everyone is different, however. Good luck to you and your son. Keep posting,

[dia]

Is your son still have to be careful with antibiotics?

[Bobbie]

Yes, He is now 46. Some do,not have to be careful, No way of telling who is lucky.