Information on Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a painful digestive system disorder most commonly found in older people. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, 50 percent of people aged 60 or older who live in Western countries will develop at least one diverticula, a pouch that forms in the wall of the large intestine, or colon. The presence of one or more of these pouches increases your chances of developing diverticulitis.

Identification

• Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches in the colon become infected or inflamed. While diverticula can form in several areas of the digestive tract, including the esophagus and small intestine, they are most likely to be found in the colon. The presence of diverticula in the digestive tract is called diverticulosis. It is possible to have diverticulosis and never develop diverticulitis.

Causes

• Diverticula form when weak places in the colon start to bulge out and form pouches due to increased pressure. Doctors aren't sure exactly how the diverticula become inflamed or infected, but think that the pressure that causes diverticulosis may also cause inflammation and infection. Diverticulitis may also occur because of trapped fecal matter or a reduced blood supply to the diverticula. Doctors used to believe that eating seeds, popcorn and nuts caused diverticulitis, but this is no longer believed to be true. Eating a diet low in fiber, aging, lack of exercise and obesity can contribute to the formation of diverticula.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, often in the lower left part of the abdomen. Pain may be severe from the beginning or may gradually increase in intensity over the course of several days. Pain can be accompanied by fever, nausea, chills, vomiting and tenderness. Constipation, diarrhea or bleeding from the rectum can also occur.

Diagnosis

• Because diverticulitis causes severe abdominal pain, your doctor will need to rule out several other common conditions with similar symptoms, such as appendicitis or irritable bowel disease, before making a diagnosis. In addition to performing a physical examination, she may recommend a blood test, as a high white count could indicate the presence of an infection. You may also undergo a computerized tomography (CAT) scan, which will give your doctor a detailed view of your digestive system. Your doctor may be able to spot inflamed or infected diverticula on the CAT scan.

Treatment

• In a mild case of diverticulitis, you may be given a course of antibiotics to clear the infection and inflammation. Your doctor may also recommend that you drink only clear liquids for two or three days to rest your bowels and may prescribe pain medication. A high fiber diet can help feces pass through your colon more easily and help ease symptoms.

Surgery

• In severe cases, surgery may be needed, particularly if there is a blockage of your colon or part of your colon has become diseased. During primary bowel resection, the diseased portion of the colon is removed and the remaining sections of the colon are sewn together, preserving normal bowel function. In some cases, the diseased area of the colon is so large that a colostomy is needed. A colostomy is used to connect a healthy section of the colon to an opening in your abdominal wall. A bag is attached to the opening and your feces exit your body through this opening rather than through your rectum. A colostomy can be permanent or may only be needed until the remaining part of the colon heals and reattachment is possible.