Diverticulitis is the contamination or inflammation of pouches that could form in the large intestine. These pouches are referred to as diverticula. The pouches aren’t dangerous. They could display up anywhere on the intestines. If you have them, this condition is known as diverticulosis. If they end up being infected or inflamed, it is Diverticulitis. Even though Diverticulitis is minor, sometimes it can also be extreme, with massive infection or perforation. Doctors call this a rupture of the bowel.
Table Of Contents
- What are the causes of Diverticulitis?
- What are the symptoms of Diverticulitis?
- How is Diverticulitis diagnosed and treated?
What are the causes of Diverticulitis?
Based on the cases, it can be inferred that the main reason for diverticulosis is not consuming enough fiber. Not ingesting sufficient fiber causes a buildup of waste (constipation) in the colon. Constipation puts greater stress on the walls of the colon. This increased strain causes the little pocket — the diverticula — to form in weak regions of the colon. The pouches in the intestines get infected or inflamed after they tear or become blocked via feces. If there are more bad germs than the good ones in the large intestine, it could cause it too. It’s more common in people over the age of 40.
Other risk factors comprise aging, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, a diet high in animal fat and low in fiber, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for a long time.
What are the symptoms of Diverticulitis?
The common signs and symptoms are:
- Persistent pain is mostly on the lower left side of the abdomen, fever, abdominal tenderness, nausea and vomiting, constipation, or, less commonly, diarrhea.
How is Diverticulitis diagnosed and treated?
Doctors diagnose Diverticulitis by discussing the past medical problems and symptoms, the type of food intake, bowel movements, and physical examination of the abdomen for pain or tenderness. To further determine the problem, gastroenterologists may suggest tests like blood tests, stool samples, digital rectal exams, barium enema, and endoscopies such as sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.
If the rectal bleeding is heavy, angiography helps to find the origin of the bleeding.
Treatment relies upon the severity of the signs and symptoms.
Non-Surgical treatment
Uncomplicated Diverticulitis In case the symptoms are slight, treatment can be given at home. Gastroenterologists recommend using antibiotics to treat patients with mild infections with a liquid diet plan for a few days for the bowel to heal. Once there are signs of improvement, solid food can be gradually added to the diet. For people with uncomplicated Diverticulitis, this treatment is successful.
Complicated Diverticulitis If the attack is severe or if there are any other health issues, hospitalization may be required. Treatment would administer intravenous antibiotics, inserting a tube to drain an abdominal abscess if one has formed.
Surgical treatment
Gastroenterologists advise surgical treatment if the non-surgical treatment does
not show any tangible progress. If there are complications such as a bowel abscess, fistula, or a perforation in the bowel wall, patients with multiple episodes of uncomplicated Diverticulitis or having a weak immune system are also likely to go undergo surgery.
There are two main types of surgery:
Primary bowel resection The surgeon eliminates the diseased parts of the large intestine and then reconnects the healthy segments (anastomosis). This allows the individual to have normal bowel movements. Depending on the irritation, open surgery or a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) system may be required.
Bowel resection with colostomy For this procedure, the surgeon performs a colectomy and connects the bowel through an abdominal opening called a stoma (colostomy). The surgeon may additionally do a colostomy if there is an excessive amount of colon inflammation. Waste passes through the slit right into a bag. Once the infection has eased, the colostomy may be reversed, and the bowel reconnected.
