Diverticulitis is caused by an infection or inflammation in pouches that have formed in the intestines. The pouches are called diverticula, which gives the condition its name. While the pouches themselves are not harmful, infection and inflammation within them can lead to a range of symptoms that can be mild to quite severe. Many patients are not aware that they have these pouches in their intestines until they start experiencing adverse symptoms related to inflammation and infection.
The most common symptoms of diverticulitis are:
This condition might be chronic in some patients or acute in others. Chronic sufferers might not realise that they have this condition until it has been going on for some time. Acute cases can be quite severe without any warning and require emergency treatment.
The cause of diverticulitis is not known. There might be a genetic factor behind this condition, but studies have not been able to draw a clear link between genes and diverticulitis yet. Most people’s risk of getting this condition increases over time. People over 40 are much more likely to get diverticulitis than those who are younger than 40. Other symptoms of diverticulitis are:
Diagnosis of diverticulitis is usually made by first ruling out other conditions that might share common symptoms. Women might be given a pelvic exam as well to investigate possible reproductive organ issues that can mimic diverticulitis symptoms.
Your blood, urine, and your stool will likely be looked at by the lab to see if there are signs of infection. A CT scan can also be used to look for inflamed or infected diverticula in your intestines. Liver enzyme tests can also rule out liver problems that might be causing your symptoms.
Prevention of this condition can be difficult prior to your first attack of diverticulitis. Many people have small pouches in their small intestines and never have any symptoms. After diagnosis, most patients will be put on a diet that eliminates some of the risks associated with diverticulitis. Patients are usually told to avoid eating food with seeds in it and to start adding more fibre to their diet.
Treatment of diverticulitis is done by changing to a clear liquids diet and having patients eat broth and other low-residual foods for a time. As symptoms improve, more foods can be added to the patient’s diet. Severe cases will likely require a hospital stay, intravenous fluids, and management of secondary problems like infections. Abdominal abscesses might be present, and these will need to be drained or addressed with surgery.
Severe cases of diverticulitis can result in surgery to resection the bowel. This removes the damaged section of the bowel and connects the healthy parts together. Some patients might need a colostomy to allow the intestines to heal, while other patients will end up with a life-long colostomy in order to allow them to live in relative comfort without being in severe pain every day.