ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Diarrhea (Antibiotic-Associated)

What is diarrhea (antibiotic-associated)?

23 January 2026

This is a common, usually mild diarrheal process caused by receiving antibiotic treatment for a bacterial infection. Antibiotics cause an imbalance in the gastrointestinal flora, leading to three or more soft or semi-liquid bowel movements per day.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects two out of every 10 people who take these medications. It usually disappears a few days after stopping the medication and does not require any treatment.

However, if you are taking antibiotics and the diarrhea is severe, it is necessary to stop the treatment and switch to another one that does not cause these effects on you.

In cases where antibiotic intake promotes a bacterial imbalance in the digestive system where the bacterium Clostridium difficile proliferates, the symptoms can be quite severe.

While any antibiotic can cause diarrhea, the ones most frequently causing these processes are macrolides, penicillins, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones.

Potential Risks for Developing Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea include:

  • Previous antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
  • Long-term antibiotic treatments.
  • Taking combined antibiotics.

Signs and symptoms Diarrhea (Antibiotic-Associated)

Common diarrheal processes associated with antibiotic intake do not present serious symptoms, only manifesting:

  • Softened or watery stool.
  • More than three bowel movements per day.

When diarrhea is caused by the proliferation of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, symptoms include:

  • Intense diarrheal episodes.
  • Dehydration.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Abdominal cramps.
  • High temperature (fever).
  • Nausea.
  • Loss of appetite.

The most common complication is dehydration, which, if left untreated and allowed to become extreme, can have fatal consequences.

Diagnosis and treatment Diarrhea (Antibiotic-Associated)

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and ask you which antibiotics you took and the duration of the treatment received.

If the symptoms are intense, they will request a stool culture (coprocultivo) to identify if the cause is an infection by Clostridium difficile.

The treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms, but generally includes:

  • Constant hydration.
  • Avoiding greasy or heavily seasoned foods.
  • Anti-diarrheal medications.
  • Antacids.

In the Internal Medicine Department at Centro Médico ABC, we provide medical care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, including both chronic-degenerative conditions and acute cases, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Diarrhea (Antibiotic-Associated)

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Sources:

  • cun.es
  • topdoctors.es
  • cigna.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • middlesexhealth.org
  • medigraphic.com
  • Chacón SMA, Bermúdez DLV, Rojas SDM. Infección por Clostridium difficile y el papel del trasplante de microbiota fecal. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2021;6(06):1-10.
  • Shveid GD, Canales ASJ, Muñoz BJM, et al. Colitis por Clostridium difficile durante el tratamiento de tuberculosis. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2018;63(2):122-124.
  • Pérez-Cruz E, Sandoval-FMG. Factores de riesgo para mortalidad en pacientes con infección por Clostridium difficile. Gac Med Mex. 2019;155(4):343-349.

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