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Diverticulitis

Diverticular disease of the colon occurs when diverticula or pockets develop in the colon, especially the sigmoid colon. More than one third of people over 45 years of age, and two thirds of people over 85 years of age have some diverticular pockets. Only about a quarter of people with diverticular pockets develop some symptoms of disease. A colonoscopy or barium enema is usually used to diagnose diverticular disease.

THE SYMPTOMS
experienced are usually pain in the lower left abdomen together with feelings of nausea and loss of appetite.

It seems that not having enough fibre in the diet causes diverticular disease. A low fibre diet possibly leads to increased pressure inside the bowel, and diverticula are caused by this pressure acting on the walls of the bowel. In a recent study in the United States, it was found that people who had a high fibre diet were much less likely to develop diverticular disease.

Diverticulitis is the most common form of diverticular disease. Diverticulitis occurs when one or more diverticula (pockets) become inflamed. The symptoms experienced are usually pain in the lower left abdomen together with feelings of nausea and loss of appetite. Bowel habits may be disturbed. The symptoms of diverticulitis settle once the inflammation has been controlled.

Facts About Diverticulitis
Fourth Edition 2009

Contents

• What is Diverticular Disease?
• Who develops diverticular disease?
• Causes and Predisposing Factors
• Common Symptoms
• Possible Complications of Diverticulitis
• Diagnosing Diverticular Disease
• Treatment of Diverticulitis
• Prevention of Diverticulitis
• Summary

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Diverticulitis (Adobe Acrobat PDF 342K)