What are diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
Many people have small pouches in the lining of the colon, or large intestines, that bulge outward through weak spots. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Multiple pouches are called diverticula.
Diverticula are most common in the lower portion of the large intestines, called the sigmoid colon. When the pouches become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis.
What are the symptoms of diverticulosis and diverticulitis?
Most people with diverticulosis do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, at times people experience cramp pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen and bloating. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so the symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis.
Diverticulitis
The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. Usually, pain comes on suddenly, but it can also be mild and become worse over several days. The intensity of the pain can fluctuate. A person may experience cramping, nausea, chills, or a change in bowel habits.
What are the complications of diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis can lead to bleeding, infections; small tears, called perforations; or blockages in the colon. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from processing and causing serious illness.
How is diverticular disease treated?
A high-fiber diet and pain medications help relieve symptoms in most cases of diverticulosis. Uncomplicated diverticulitis with mild symptoms usually requires the person to rest, take oral antibiotics, and be on a liquid diet foe a period of time. Sometimes an attack of diverticulitis is serious enough to require a hospital stay, intravenous (IV) antibiotics, and possibly surgery.
Diverticulitis
Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the inflammation and infection, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing complications.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, the doctor may recommend bed rest, oral antibiotics, a pain reliever, and a liquid diet. If symptoms ease after a few days, the doctor will recommend gradually increasing the amount of high-fiber foods in the diet.
Severe cases of diverticulitis with acute pain and complications will likely require a hospital say. Most cases of severe diverticulitis are treated with IV antibiotics and a few days without food or drink to help the colon rest. In some cases, sugary may be necessary.