Diverticulitis Information

What To Do For Diverticulitis

What causes diverticulitis? Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches form in the lining of the colon and then become inflamed. These pouches are known as diverticulum (plural: diverticula). Diverticulitis is known, therefore, as a diverticular disease.

Very often, diverticula grow and begin to bulge out through weak spots in wall of the colon. When this happens, it's called diverticulosis. When the pouches become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis follows diverticulosis in 10 to 25 percent of cases.

Doctors and researchers have not been able to determine why diverticula sometime become inflamed. But they suspect the inflammation may start when bacteria or stool are trapped in the diverticula.

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis are much more common in the industrialized nations of the world. People in these countries eat less fiber, and there seems to be a connection between a low fiber diet and diverticular disease. Both diverticulitis and diverticulosis are rare in Third World countries in Africa and Asia.

Signs and symptoms of diverticulitis Diverticulitis symptoms typically include abdomen pain, often with tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen.

Diverticulitis may come on suddenly and cause severe discomfort, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, it begins with mild pain that grows worse over the course of several days.

If an infection is present, these signs and symptoms of diverticulitis may also occur

• fever,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• chills,
• stomach cramping, and
• constipation.

The extent of the infection and any complications will determine the severity of the symptoms.

Complications of diverticulitis Diverticulitis can lead to

• bleeding,
• infections,
• perforations or tears, or
• blockages.

These complications are serious and always require professional treatment, sometimes including surgery, to keep them from progressing and causing serious threats to health.

Treating diverticulitis Diverticulitis sometimes requires aggressive treatment, including a low residue diet or even a liquid diet. A low residue diet for diverticulitis includes just ten grams of fiber a day or less. You should avoid whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds and tough meat in a low residue diet, focusing more on fresh fruits and berries (but not prunes), potatoes without the skin, white rice, refined pasta and noodles. Apple sauce and fruit cocktail are also good.

A low residue diverticulitis diet works because a lower volume of food passes through the colon, which relieves pressure on diverticula that have flared up. 

Diverticulitis drugs target the infection and inflammation, and could involve antibiotics, or in more serious cases, surgery and a hospital stay. Surgery involves removing the infected part of the colon and reconnecting it with another section.

Sources: Mayo Clinic website, National Institutes of Health, Diverticulitis Breakthrough, by Mark Anastasi.

Sponsored Advertising

The Diverticulitis Breakthrough

Click on The Diverticulitis Breakthrough to learn more