Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a painful form of inflammation in the digestive tract.¹ It occurs when pockets (diverticula) that develop in the wall of the colon, in a condition known as diverticulosis, become infected or inflamed.² Many of the symptoms that present with diverticulitis are:

• acute abdominal pain and soreness often in the lower left region
• cramping from muscle spasms
• fever, nausea, vomiting, chills
• change in bowel habits

Severe complications can occur with diverticulosis if left untreated. Some of the possible complications are abscesses, ruptures, bleeding, perforations in the wall of the intestines, and intestinal obstruction.³

In the diagnosis of diverticulitis, your healthcare provider may perform a rectal exam, a blood test for anemia or inflammation, a CT scan to identify diverticula, a barium enema with an x-ray which is involved in a lower GI series test, or a colonoscopy.² After the result of a test points toward the correct diagnosis, there are various treatment options that may follow. For uncomplicated diverticulitis with mild symptoms, the treatment calls for rest, oral antibiotics, and a liquid diet for a period of time. For complicated diverticulitis with more severe symptoms, the treatment requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and a few days without food or drink which may entail intravenous feeding/nutrition.

Diverticulitis is a relatively common disorder due to the prevalence of diverticulosis, especially as people age. In the United States, about 35% of adults under the age of 50 and about 58% of those older than 60 have diverticulosis. Among those people, 5% will develop diverticulitis over time.⁴ About 200,000 are hospitalized each year with diverticulitis, the hospitalizations accounting for 1.5 million days of inpatient care per year.⁵ It is estimated that approximately 20% of diverticulitis patients will have another flare-up or recurrence within 5 years.² To reduce the risk of reoccurrence, eat foods higher in fiber and gradually add more fiber in your diet – aiming to get about 25 grams of fiber a day – because it is known to keep the digestive system healthy.

If diverticulitis is a concern, seek immediate medical attention. This disease must be properly treated to prevent more severe complications from arising.

References:

1.  pmhdev. Diverticulitis - National Library of Medicine. PubMed Health. Accessed October 19, 2016.

2.  Diagnosis of Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis. Health Information. Accessed October 19, 2016.

3.  Matrana MR, Margolin DA. Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Diverticular Disease. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2009;22(3):141-146. doi:10.1055/s-0029-1236157.

4.  Wheat CL, Strate LL. Trends in Hospitalization for Diverticulitis and Diverticular Bleeding in the United States From 2000 to 2010. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Off Clin Pract J Am Gastroenterol Assoc. 2016;14(1):96-103.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.03.030.

5.  Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States. Accessed October 19, 2016.