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Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of tiny pouches in the colon, caused by a low-fiber diet. Symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea. Treatment includes pain medication and antibiotics, and a high-fiber diet can reduce the risk of further attacks. Surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of the diverticula, which are tiny pouches that form in the colon. This inflammation causes abdominal pain and digestive symptoms and can cause bleeding in the colon. Diverticulitis is treated with pain medications and antibiotics when needed.
Why diverticula form in the colon is not well understood. The prevailing idea is that a low-fiber diet is a major cause. A low-fiber diet is implicated because fiber adds bulk and moisture to stool, which makes it easier to move through the colon. Without added fiber, the colon has to work harder to move stool. This added pressure is thought to push the walls of the colon out at the weak points where blood vessels pass, creating the tiny sacs of diverticula.
As stool moves through the colon, small amounts of food or stool can enter the diverticula and become trapped. If the bacteria are present in trapped food or feces, inflammation or infection can occur. The result of this is diverticulitis. Symptoms include pain in the lower left side of the belly, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, and chills. Sometimes, the pain is worse when moving.
This disease can be complicated by peritonitis, which can develop if infection in a diverticulum causes the colon wall to rupture. If this occurs, the infection can migrate into the abdominal cavity, causing severe abdominal swelling and pain, vomiting, nausea, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, chills, and fever. If these symptoms develop in someone with diverticulitis, he or she should receive emergency medical treatment right away, because peritonitis is a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly.
Home treatment is sufficient to manage the symptoms of mild diverticulitis. Heating pads can help relieve pain and cramping, and over-the-counter pain relievers can be used if needed. If these measures do not help manage the pain, a doctor should be consulted. For infection and severe pain, painkillers and antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor. The risk of further attacks can be reduced by eating a high-fiber diet, rich in vegetables and whole grains, and by drinking plenty of water every day. This way of eating will help bulk up and soften the stool and make it easier to move it through the colon.
If the attacks become frequent or severe, surgery may be needed. The procedure is called a partial colectomy and involves the surgical removal of diseased sections of the colon. Once these sections have been removed, the remaining parts are connected. Depending on the severity of the disease, one or more surgeries may be needed to repair the damage.
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