Diverticular disease is a very common disorder of the bowel in which small, abnormal pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of your colon (large intestine). Having diverticular disease without any symptoms is known as diverticulosis. However, if these pouches become inflamed or infected, it is called diverticulitis. The main risk factors for diverticular disease include increasing age and eating a western diet low in dietary fiber. The condition is virtually unheard of in Asia and Africa, where foods that are high in dietary fiber are the norm.
Lack of dietary fiber means increased pressure is needed to move the stools through your colon. If you have diverticular disease, you may not have any symptoms whatsoever and may not even be aware of it. Diverticulitis can range from a mild case, which makes you feel unwell, to a full-blown medical emergency, requiring hospitalization.
Ingredients in food that are not digestible. They pass through the digestive system relatively unchanged and help to keep the digestive system healthy.
Your colon is a muscular tube that pushes waste matter down towards your rectum, to be expelled via your anus as stools. The colon uses rhythmic muscular contractions (peristalsis) to propel waste matter along, using its tough outer layer of muscle in a squeezing/pushing movement. The inner layer of your colon is lined with smoother, weaker tissue.
If you eat a diet that is rich in fiber, your stools are large and soft and easily pushed out of your body. If your diet is mainly processed foods that are low in dietary fiber, this can give you constipation, resulting in small, hard stools. These are difficult for your colon to move, needing extra effort and straining on your behalf.
It is believed this straining can cause weak areas to appear in your colon wall, especially near where blood vessels emerge. Small pockets of the colon's inner lining get pushed through these weak areas as you strain. These are diverticula. They can form anywhere in the colon; however, it is more common for them to form on the left side of the abdomen (descending colon).
As you age, the pressure from constipation can further weaken your intestinal walls, making it easier for diverticula to form. It is thought that a piece of hardened stool becoming trapped in your diverticula may trigger the infection of diverticulitis. Without treatment, severe complications (see below) may occur.
Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula formed in the colon wall as a result of constipation.
The part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis.
The opening at the end of the anal canal, between the buttocks, through which fecal matter and intestinal gas exits the body.
Ingredients in food that are not digestible. They pass through the digestive system relatively unchanged and help to keep the digestive system healthy.
Entry into the body of microorganisms that can reproduce and cause disease.
A body’s protective immune response to injury or infection. The accumulation of fluid, cells and proteins at the site of an infection or physical injury, resulting in swelling, heat, redness, pain and loss of function.
The final part of the large intestine, leading to the anus.
Risk factors for diverticulitis include:
Symptoms of diverticulitis include some or all of:
Diverticulitis can cause sharp pain in the lower left-hand side of the abdomen.
The part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis.
Diverticular disease often goes undiagnosed and you may only discover you have the condition if you have an acute episode of diverticulitis. In fact, the presence of diverticula are often only discovered during investigative procedures for another bowel condition.
Your doctor may ask about your complete health history, including your diet and exercise status.
Your doctor will press the outside of your abdomen to find areas of pain.
A full blood count can be used to screen for infection by measuring your white blood cell count. Other blood tests may include liver, pancreatic and kidney function tests, as well as inflammation markers. If other conditions are suspected, blood tests may be ordered to help exclude these.
A stool microscopy, culture and sensitivity is used to check if there are harmful bacteria in your feces. You will be given a sterile container to provide a fresh stool sample. In the lab, a scientist will look for bacteria under a microscope and place some of your stool onto a special gel (agar) plate, which will selectively grow certain bacteria. The stool may also be tested for the presence of blood.
CT scans send X-ray beams from multiple angles using a machine that circles your body. This allows the machine to generate cross-sectional images of your internal organs. Often a contrast dye will be injected into your veins before the scan, and/or ingested or given as an enema if the scan is of the abdominal area, to help get a clearer picture of the digestive system. Abdominal scans also require fasting for 2-4 hours prior. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes. A CT scan can help diagnose diverticulitis and its potential complications.
A barium enema is a diagnostic procedure that uses a contrasting barium dye and X-ray to examine your bowels. Before the procedure, the bowel will be prepared by being flushed out with an oral laxative solution and/or enema. A barium-filled tube is then inserted into the anus and the fluid released into the colon. Air will be pumped in to ensure the fluid reaches the corners of the bowel. An X-ray is then taken of the inflated bowel and it may show if diverticula are present.
A colonoscopy is used to examine the entire length of your colon. On the day before your procedure your doctor will prescribe a suitable oral laxative solution to clear your bowel of feces, to allow the clearest view of the bowel. You will generally need to drink a lot of water during the preparation as you will pass large amounts of loose and sometimes watery stools. During the colonoscopy, a long, thin tube with a camera, called a colonoscope, is inserted into your bowel through your anus. You will be sedated prior to the procedure to help you to relax.
The part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis.
The opening at the end of the anal canal, between the buttocks, through which fecal matter and intestinal gas exits the body.
Microscopic, single-celled organisms with DNA but no definite nucleus. Bacteria are the cause of many human diseases.
A procedure in which fluid or gas is injected into the rectum for cleansing, diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
A blood test that examines the blood, either by using a microscope or an automated machine, to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Entry into the body of microorganisms that can reproduce and cause disease.
A body’s protective immune response to injury or infection. The accumulation of fluid, cells and proteins at the site of an infection or physical injury, resulting in swelling, heat, redness, pain and loss of function.
Any substance that causes or encourages bowel movements.
A scan that uses ionizing radiation beams to create an image of the body’s internal structures.
Relating to the abdomen, the middle portion of the trunk which contains organs such as the intestines, stomach and liver.
Relating to the pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen that secretes important chemicals, such as insulin, into the bloodstream and digestive enzymes into the intestines.
Your doctor will be able to advise if treatment at home is suitable. Sometimes diverticulitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate hospitalization for assessment and management.
Home care usually incorporates the following:
You may be advised to have a liquid-only diet for a few days, to allow your bowel to rest and give it time to recover.
You will most likely be given acetaminophen or other pain-relief medication to help with your pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin are not recommended, as they can increase your chance of internal bleeding and upset your stomach.
Antibiotics are likely to be prescribed to fight the infection in your bowel.
Hospital treatment may be necessary if you have an acute and severe case of diverticulitis with the following circumstances:
Treatment is likely to include fluids and antibiotics, given via an intravenous drip (IV) attached to a vein in your arm. Pain-relief medications can also be given intravenously or via muscular injection. Recovery usually occurs over a few days, but can depend on the severity of your condition.
Surgery is usually only required in certain cases of diverticulitis. If there are certain complications, frequent episodes of infection and/or a severe infection not responding to medications, surgery may be indicated. Surgical treatment can comprise the following:
Bowel resection is a type of surgery in which the affected part of your bowel is removed. You will be under general anesthetic during the surgery, so will not feel any pain. Once the unhealthy part of your bowel is removed, your surgeon will either staple or sew the healthy parts together. You will probably be kept in hospital for 3-7 days after surgery and receive fluids via an IV drip for the first few days. Food is generally gradually reintroduced as tolerated.
Your surgeon may decide to give your bowel time to heal before reattaching it, either temporarily or permanently (rarely). This can be done by creating a special opening, called a stoma, in your abdomen. Your fecal matter passes through this opening into a special bag. You will usually undergo surgery to reattach your bowel once the bowel has healed.
The part of the body that lies between the chest and the pelvis.
An anesthetic given to a person to put them to sleep while having an operation or medical procedure. Afterwards, the person regains consciousness and usually has no memory of the procedure. A general anesthetic is given in hospital by a specialist called an anesthetist.
Entry into the body of microorganisms that can reproduce and cause disease.
A small tube inserted into a vein to administer fluid.
There are a number of potentially serious complications of diverticulitis:
Entry into the body of microorganisms that can reproduce and cause disease.
A bodily fluid that is the result of an inflammatory response at an infection site. Its color can range from whitish to yellow to green, depending on the composition. Pus is mainly composed of dead bacteria, white blood cells and cellular debris.
Relating to the abdomen, the middle portion of the trunk which contains organs such as the intestines, stomach and liver.
If you have had an episode of diverticulitis, you have a higher chance of having future episodes. Changing your diet, taking fiber supplements and leading an active lifestyle are the best ways to improve your future health. If you have further symptoms such as rectal bleeding, your doctor will advise further management based on your individual situation.
Relating to the rectum, the final part of the large intestine leading to the anus.
Diverticular disease is one of the most common bowel disorders in older people in the US and the Western world. The best way to avoid its recurrence is to get active, quit smoking and, to avoid constipation, follow a healthy diet that contains at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day with lots of wholegrain foods and water. Taking a fiber supplement will also help you prevent constipation and reduce further pressure on your colon.