If left untreated, diverticulitis can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening complications like abscesses (pus pockets), bowel obstructions (blockages), perforation (a hole in the colon), fistulas (abnormal connections between organs), peritonitis (severe abdominal infection), sepsis, and severe bleeding, often requiring hospitalization and surgery to resolve. Mild cases might resolve, but ignoring symptoms allows inflammation and infection to worsen, creating dangerous secondary problems.
Diverticulitis shouldn't affect your overall life expectancy. Only in the unlikely event of a bowel perforation or a ruptured abscess would you be at risk of life-threatening complications.
The majority of people with diverticula will not have any symptoms; this is known as diverticulosis. Symptoms of diverticulitis tend to be more serious and include: more severe abdominal pain, especially on the left side. high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above.
Infection (diverticulitis) Holes, rupture, or tears in the intestines. These can cause sores (abscesses) or infection throughout the abdomen (peritonitis). Peritonitis can be fatal.
While no specific foods are proven to trigger diverticulitis attacks, a diet rich in high-fiber foods can help maintain digestive health and reduce the risk of complications. High-fiber foods soften waste, decreasing pressure in the digestive tract. Examples include: Fruits.
Staging
Straining to pass stools increases the pressure in the colon or intestines, which may lead to the formation of these pouches. In some cases, one of the pouches can become inflamed and a small tear develops in the lining of the intestine. This can lead to an infection at the site.
Urgent red flags – seek immediate medical help (999/A&E):
Severe or worsening abdominal pain with fever. Persistent vomiting, inability to pass wind or stool. Heavy rectal bleeding, black or tarry stools. Signs of shock (pale, clammy, dizzy, fainting)
For managing mild diverticulitis pain or symptoms at home, your healthcare professional may recommend eating only clear foods and clear liquids for a few days. Examples of clear liquids that you can have include: Chicken, beef or vegetable broth. Fruit juices without pulp, such as apple, cranberry and grape juices.
Diverticulitis comes from infection and inflammation within small pouches (diverticula) that form in the colon wall, often due to high pressure from straining to pass hard, low-fiber stools, trapping bacteria and food, leading to blockage and infection. Risk factors include a low-fiber diet, constipation, obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, red meat, and age, though doctors don't know the exact cause.
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.
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.
As with all infections, diverticulitis is potentially life-threatening because the infection can pass through your blood to other organs, including your heart and brain, a condition known as sepsis. Both fever and chills are your body's attempts to kill the bacteria and other pathogens that threaten your health.
If imaging shows a large abscess or a tear in the colon wall, emergency surgery may be necessary to prevent infection from spreading. That's not meant to scare you—it's simply the medical reality of when diverticulitis needs surgery to protect your health. There's also the matter of repeated episodes.
Symptoms of a diverticulitis flare-up
The discomfort can be constant or intermittent (but usually constant) and may worsen with movement or pressure. Fever: A diverticulitis flare-up can cause a low-grade fever. If you experience a persistent or high fever, seek medical attention.
The worst things for diverticulitis during a flare-up are high-fiber foods, red/processed meats, sugar, fat, alcohol, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, as they can worsen inflammation and symptoms; instead, focus on a temporary low-fiber diet (liquids/soft foods) and gradually reintroduce fiber after healing to prevent future attacks, consulting your doctor for personalized advice.
Diverticulitis can usually be treated effectively. In straightforward (uncomplicated) cases, antibiotics often aren't needed. Surgery is only necessary if the inflammation is so severe that it could lead to complications.
Diverticulitis can become serious if you experience blood in your stool, a fever over 100.4°F (38°C) that doesn't go away, nausea, vomiting, or chills. These signs could mean an infection or complications, so it's important to see a doctor if they don't improve.
Immunomodulator therapy is showing promise in reducing inflammation. Emerging colon therapies offer new possibilities for diverticulitis care. These innovative treatments aim to provide more effective and less invasive solutions. Patients can benefit from a more personalized approach to treatment.
Diverticulitis causes several noticeable changes in your poop, including altered color (bright red, maroon, or black), different shapes (thin, pellet-like, or irregular), and unusual texture (watery diarrhea or hard constipation).
In the outpatient setting, treatment of mild uncomplicated diverticulitis most commonly includes either a combination of an oral fluoroquinolone and metronidazole or monotherapy with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. The duration of treatment is usually 4–7 days but can be longer.
You should seek emergency medical attention for diverticulitis if you experience one or more of the following: Blood in stool. Excessive vomiting or severe nausea. Fever over 100.4 F.
Stage I: Diverticulitis with phlegmon or localized pericolic or mesenteric abscess. This means there are inflammatory masses or abscesses in the fat surrounding the colon or the folds of the small intestine. Stage II: Diverticulitis with walled-off pelvic, intra-abdominal, or retroperitoneal abscess.
Symptoms of diverticular disease and diverticulitis
Mild, uncomplicated diverticulitis typically resolves on its own at home. "Going from a solid, heavy diet to a softer, more liquid diet for a few days usually helps ease symptoms as the body naturally clears a mild infection," Dr Warner says. More intense pain may warrant antibiotics.