Diverticulitis

What is diverticulosis?

Diverticolosis is a condition that develops when pouches form in the wall of the colon. These pouches are usually very small 5 mm in diameter, but they can be larger.

In diverticulosis the pouches in the colon wall do not cause symptoms. Diverticulosis may not be discovered unless symptoms occur, such as in painful diverticular disease or in diverticulitis. As many as 80% who have diverticulosis never get diverticulitis In many cases, diverticulosis is discovered only when tests are done to find the cause of a different medical problem or during a screening exam.

What causes diverticulosis?

The reason pouches (diverticula) form in the colon wall is not completely understood. Doctors think diverticula form when high pressure inside the colon pushes against weak spots in the colon wall.

Normally, a diet with adequate fiber produces stool that is bulky and can move easily through the colon. If a diet is low in fiber, the colon must exert more pressure than usual to move small, hard stool. A low-fiber diet also can increase the time stool remains in the bowel, adding to the high pressure.

What are the symptoms?

Most people don't have symptoms. You may have had diverticulosis for years by the time symptoms occur (if they do). Over time, some people get an infection in the pouches (diverticulitis). For more information, see the topic Diverticulitis.

How is diverticulosis diagnosed?

In many cases, diverticulosis is discovered only when tests, such as a colonoscopy, are done to find the cause of a different medical problem or during a screening exam.

What is Diverticulitis?:

It is an inflamation of the Colon which carrys diverticula. Symptoms are abdominal pain especially in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, fever and stool irregularity

Therapy:

In many cases antibiotic treatment is sufficient in recurrant disease an operation has to be considerd.