Sometimes, with age, the inner, lining layer of the large intestine bulges out through the outer, muscular layer. The bulges look like small pouches and are called diverticula. The presence of diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become inflamed and infected because they are blocked with stool. If the inflammation is severe, a hole (perforation) may form in the wall of the intestine. On rare occasions, perforation may lead to peritonitis, which is the inflammation of the lining of the abdomen and is a potentially serious condition.
Risk factors of Diverticulitis
Diverticula usually develop when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. This causes marble-sized pouches to protrude through the colon wall. In Western populations, pouches are most common in your sigmoid and descending colon — the lower portions of your large intestine just above your rectum. In Asian populations, pouches in the right colon (cecum and ascending colon) are more common.
Symptoms of Diverticulosis
Most people with diverticulosis have few or no symptoms. Doctors refer to diverticulosis with no symptoms as asymptomatic diverticulosis. For people who experience symptoms, the condition is called symptomatic diverticulosis. Symptomatic diverticulosis is categorized into three types - painful diverticulosis.
A computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound scan may be helpful for determining that the problem is diverticulitis and not appendicitis or an abscess.
Pain in the abdomen, usually in the lower left side
Bleeding: Bright red or maroon blood may appear in the toilet, on toilet paper, or in your stool. Bleeding can be severe and often stops by itself.
How is diverticular disease treated?
For mild cases of diverticulitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. He or she may also suggest that you eat more fiber, drink plenty of fluids and exercise regularly to help prevent future problems.
Home care
If your condition calls for home treatment, expect to remain quiet for a few days. You’ll also temporarily need to avoid all whole grains, fruits and vegetables so that your colon can rest and heal. Once your symptoms improve — often in two to four days — you can gradually start increasing the amount of high-fiber foods in your diet.
Surgery for diverticulitis
Diverticulitis that does not respond to medical treatment requires surgical intervention. Surgery usually involves drainage of any collections of pus and resection of that segment of the colon containing the diverticuli, usually the sigmoid colon. Therefore, surgical removal of the bleeding diverticula is necessary for those with persistent bleeding.
Tags:causes of diverticulitis diverticulitis symptoms diverticulitis treatment signs of diverticulitis what is diverticulitis
Random Posts
