Diverticulosis is not rare at all; it's extremely common, especially in Western countries and with aging, affecting over half of people over 60 and even more over 80, though most remain unaware due to lack of symptoms, with low-fiber diets being a key factor. It's much rarer in Asian and African populations with high-fiber diets and before age 40.
Diverticulosis is common, especially as people age. More than one-third of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 59 have diverticulosis. More than two-thirds who are over age 80 have it. Most of those people will not have symptoms or problems.
Once you developed diverticula, they are unlikely to go away. Bleeding and inflammation are two common complications of diverticulosis. Diet plays an important role in the prevention of the progression of diverticulosis, but will not be able to reverse the process.
Diverticulosis is not usually a problem and may not cause any symptoms. If feces or particles can get trapped in the diverticula, they can become inflamed and infected. Diverticulitis refers to this infection or inflammation of the diverticula. Not all people who have diverticulosis will develop diverticulitis.
Other symptoms of diverticulitis can include: a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above. a general feeling of being tired and unwell. feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
Other signs and symptoms of diverticulitis may include:
When diverticulitis leads to sepsis, look out for these specific symptoms:
Medical treatments for diverticulitis symptoms include:
Antibiotics to treat infection. Anti-inflammatory medications. Pain medications. Liquid diet and bed rest.
There are many risk factors for diverticulosis such as a low fiber diet, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diminished immune status, alcohol, and age. Diverticulosis is highly prevalent, and the proportion of the population with diverticulosis increases notably with age.
Complications of diverticular disease
Perforation – a weakened pocket of bowel wall may rupture. The contents of the bowel can then seep into the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include pain, high fever and chills. A perforated bowel is a medical emergency.
Last Update: December 28, 2021; Next update: 2025. Bowel surgery can relieve long-term problems caused by diverticula – but there are risks involved. Surgery is sometimes needed, though, in order to avoid serious complications of diverticulitis.
Typical diet to prevent diverticulitis
Over time, keep adding fiber to your diet by including high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High-fiber foods may lower your chances of getting diverticulitis again. Drink lots of water to keep fiber moving through your digestive system.
They found that the optimal time for elective resection was after the third attack of uncomplicated diverticulitis and that the probability of surgery after the first hospitalized attack was the same after three attacks.
Most people with diverticulosis do not have, or go on to develop, diverticular disease. The great majority of people with diverticulosis will live out their lives never having symptoms.
Lifestyle remains the major culprit behind diverticulitis flare-ups. A high-fat, low-fiber diet commonly followed in Western countries can exacerbate diverticulitis symptoms. Lack of fiber in the diet can cause constipation and strain the bowel.
Colonoscopy is advised after an episode of complicated diverticulitis and after a first episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis, but can be deferred if a recent (within 1 year) high-quality colonoscopy was performed.
Cater says people with diverticulosis can benefit from eating fiber-rich foods, including: Whole grains, such as quinoa, bulgur, teff, barley, popcorn, oats, shredded wheat or bran cereals, and whole grain breads.
Drinking alcohol can irritate the digestive system and trigger diverticulitis flare-ups. It's unclear if alcohol directly causes diverticular disease, but drinking more increases risk.
Stages of Diverticulitis
Stage III: Abscesses have burst, and pus has been discharged into the abdomen. Stage IV: Abscesses have burst into the peritoneal cavity (a fluid-filled area that houses many of the abdominal organs), resulting in the presence of feces and, subsequently, infection.
Having diverticulosis alone isn't necessarily a problem. Most people never experience any symptoms or complications from it. It can become serious under rare circumstances. For example, if you develop an infection and it goes untreated for too long, it can lead to complications like sepsis.
Probiotics combined with mesalazine have also emerged as an alternative potential therapeutic strategy in preventing recurrent attacks of diverticulitis. One series reported that treatment with mesalazine and/or lactobacillus casei induced remission in 88% of their patients at a median follow-up of 2 years.
Abdominal and Pelvic CT: A CT scan is the best test to diagnose diverticulitis. It can also help determine the severity of the condition and guide treatment. You may receive an intravenous (IV) injection of contrast material. You may also drink an oral contrast material one hour before your scan.
Complications of diverticulitis
an opening from your bowel to another organ, such as your bladder, called a fistula. a hole (perforation) in your bowel, which can cause a severe infection called peritonitis.
Early warning signs of sepsis include fever or low temperature, chills, rapid breathing or heart rate, confusion, slurred speech, extreme pain or discomfort, clammy/sweaty skin, and reduced urine output, with children potentially showing fewer wet nappies, vomiting, or a non-fading rash. These symptoms, often appearing after an infection, signal a severe body response and require immediate emergency care, as sepsis can rapidly worsen, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Diverticulitis perforation is a medical emergency with symptoms like sudden, severe abdominal pain (often lower left), high fever, chills, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and a rigid, tender abdomen, as bowel contents leak into the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). It requires immediate medical attention, with signs of worsening infection like difficulty breathing or confusion signaling sepsis.