An out-pouching in the lining of the colon is called a diverticulum. Multiple out- pouchings are called diverticula. When a patient has many of these diverticula throughout the colon, he or she has diverticulosis. When one of these diverticula becomes infected and inflamed and causes abdominal pain and fever the condition is called diverticulitis.
Many people develop diverticula as they age, with 50-70% of all Americans over the age of 70 having diverticular disease. Not all people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis. In fact, upwards of 80% of patients’ with diverticular disease never develop diverticulitis.
Prevention
Consumption of a high-fiber diet is the leading theory to prevent the formation of diverticula. By consuming a high-fiber diet, constipation is avoided; the stool passes easily through the large intestine; therefore, less pressure is exerted through the wall of the colon from the surrounding muscles. Less pressure alleviates the bulging of the out-pouches and prevents diverticula formation.
Diverticulosis is usually symptom free and is found incidentally during examination of the colon by XRAY imaging or colonoscopy. One of the most common and serious complications of diverticular disease is a bleeding diverticulum. This occurs as a blood vessel travels too close to an out-pouching resulting in a rupture of this vessel. This rupture will usually produce a large amount of bright red blood per rectum. Quite often this bleeding is self limiting, but occasionally, a colonoscopy is used to find the bleeding diverticulum and stop the bleeding with injected medication, clip placement, or a heater probe applied to the bleeding site.
Diverticulitis or an infected diverticulum usually causes abdominal pain and fever, but may also cause nausea, chills, cramping, and vomiting. Sequele of infected diverticula can be quite serious with perforation (a tear in the lining of the colon), abscess formation (an infected pocket of pus in the belly), bleeding, and bowel obstruction being the most severe. Diverticulitis is treated with bowel rest (holding all food and liquids) and antibiotics. Occasionally, frequent bouts of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding are treated with surgical intervention with removal of a small part of the colon which is causing the problem. The colon is reconnected and patients are able to lead a normal healthy lifestyle.
Increasing fiber in the diet may decrease symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis and bleeding. As mentioned before, fiber decreases the pressure in the colon and prevents diverticula formation.
Note: There is actually no documented scientific evidence that implicates nuts, seeds, popcorn, or other small ingested objects of food in diverticulitis occurrence. Diverticulitis most likely occurs when a very hard stool ball is lodged in a pocket causing infection. Therefore, to prevent diverticulitis, and pouch formation in general, keep stool soft and avoid constipation.
Prevention
vomiting. Sequele of infected diverticula can be quite serious with perforation (a tear in the lining of the colon), abscess formation (an infected pocket of pus in the belly), bleeding, and bowel obstruction being the most severe. Diverticulitis is treated with bowel rest (holding all food and liquids) and antibiotics. Occasionally, frequent bouts of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding are treated with surgical intervention with removal of a small part of the colon which is causing the problem. The colon is reconnected and patients are able to lead a normal healthy lifestyle.