Having diverticula is called diverticulosis. It's common as you get older, and most people never have any problems with it. But if one of your diverticula becomes inflamed, it can cause acute pain and other symptoms. It might mean that it has an infection, which needs medical attention.
As stated, diverticulosis is merely the presence of colonic diverticula without symptoms or macroscopic/microscopic signs of inflammation. In this way, no signs of inflammation should be detected, both at endoscopic and also at histological assessment.
People with diverticulosis often have no symptoms, but they may have bloating and cramping in the lower part of the belly. Rarely, they may notice blood in their stool or on toilet paper. Symptoms of diverticulitis are more severe and often start suddenly, but they may become worse over a few days.
Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. They are found most often in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). Diverticula are common, especially after age 40, and seldom cause problems.
Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic, or it may cause episodes of bleeding. Approximately fifteen percent will develop diverticular bleeding. If inflammation develops within the diverticula, around eighty-five percent of people will respond to medical treatment.
It is possible, though unlikely, that diverticular disease could be missed during a colonoscopy.
Having diverticula is called diverticulosis. It's common as you get older, and most people never have any problems with it. But if one of your diverticula becomes inflamed, it can cause acute pain and other symptoms. It might mean that it has an infection, which needs medical attention.
Diverticulosis is quite common, especially as people age. More than 30% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 59 and more than 70% of those older than age 80 have diverticulosis. Most people with diverticulosis will never develop symptoms or problems.
Diverticular disease is caused by small bulges in the large intestine (diverticula) developing and becoming inflamed. If any of the diverticula become infected, this leads to symptoms of diverticulitis. The exact reason why diverticula develop is not known, but they are associated with not eating enough fibre.
Stool may become hard, loose, thin, or pellet-shaped. Stool may contain blood and/or mucus. Diarrhea and/or constipation can occur. Bowel movements may also be irregular.
You can have diverticulosis and not have any pain or symptoms. But symptoms may include mild cramps, swelling or bloating, and constipation. These symptoms can also be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, or other health problems. These symptoms don't always mean that you have diverticulosis.
For most people, diverticulitis won't affect their life span. Many people don't even know they have diverticular disease. Only a small percentage will have symptoms, and an even smaller number will have complications.
Symptoms of diverticular disease include: tummy pain, usually in your lower left side, that tends to come and go and gets worse during or shortly after eating (pooing or farting eases it) constipation, diarrhoea, or both. occasionally, blood in your poo.
Common alternative conditions that can clinically mimic diverticulitis include small bowel obstruction, primary epiploic appendagitis, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, ileitis, ovarian cystic disease, and ureteral stone disease.
Chronic diverticular disease
Fistulas increase the risk of complications, so surgery is generally recommended if they arise. Surgery may be recommended for stenosis too, depending on how narrow the intestine has become.
Diverticulosis: You can have it for years and never know — if you take care of yourself. About one or two percent of patients under 30 experience diverticulosis while people age 60 and older have some degree of the condition.
Diverticular disease includes diverticulosis and the more severe diverticulitis, two conditions affecting the colon's inner lining.
CAUSES. The most commonly accepted theory for the formation of diverticulosis is related to high pressure within the colon, which causes weak areas of the colon wall to bulge out and form the sacs. A diet low in fiber and high in red meat may also play a role.
Once the sacs develop, they don't heal on their own, and they don't go away. We can cure diverticulosis by performing surgery to remove the sacs.
Diverticulitis is treated using diet modifications, antibiotics, and possibly surgery. Mild diverticulitis infection may be treated with bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the infection, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.
Colorectal surgery can also be performed as an elective procedure to prevent recurrent episodes of diverticulitis. Your doctor can explain the benefits and risks of this option. Elective surgery is usually a minimally invasive procedure, and surgeons use either traditional laparoscopy or robotic-assisted laparoscopy.
According to the American Gastrointestinal Association, a colonoscopy should be performed six to eight weeks after resolution of acute diverticulitis. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is malignancy after an acute diverticulitis event in adults less than 50 years old.
Colonoscopy is the most useful method of determining the presence and extent of diverticulosis and can be vital to the diagnosis and management of diverticular diseases.
If nothing was spotted during the colonoscopy, your doctor should be able to give you the all clear fairly quickly. You may need to have additional tests to identify the cause of your symptoms if the colonoscopy didn't reveal anything.