The symptoms can be similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and may overlap. It is not known why only one in four people with diverticula go on to have symptoms of diverticulitis.ĭiverticular disease may be chronic low-level diverticulitis. The exact reason why small bulges in the large intestine (diverticula) develop is not known, but they are associated with not eating enough fibre.
Causes of diverticular disease and diverticulitis If you have not been diagnosed with the condition, contact your GP so they can rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as appendicitis and colitis. If you have symptoms of diverticular disease and the condition has previously been diagnosed, you do not usually need to contact your GP as the symptoms can be treated at home. When to seek medical adviceĬontact your GP as soon as possible if you think you have symptoms of diverticulitis. Surgery to remove the affected section of the intestine is sometimes recommended if there have been serious complications, although this is rare. More serious cases may need hospital treatment to prevent and treat complications. Mild diverticulitis can usually be treated at home with paracetamol, clear fluids and antibiotics prescribed by your GP. Speak to your GP if paracetamol alone is not working. Other painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen are not recommended for regular use for the pain associated with diverticular disease, as they can cause stomach upsets, or promote bleeding from the large bowel when this condition is present. Treating diverticular disease and diverticulitisĪ high-fibre diet can often ease symptoms of diverticular disease, and paracetamol can be used to relieve pain. This is because East Asian people tend to develop diverticula in a different part of their colon for genetic reasons. In Asian people, the pain may move to the lower right-hand side of your abdomen. The pain usually starts below your belly button, before moving to the lower left-hand side of your abdomen. discomfort passing urine, or passing urine more often than normal.constant abdominal pain, usually severe.a general feeling of being tired and unwell.a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above.Other symptoms of diverticulitis can include: It is most likely to occur if you have previously had symptoms of diverticular disease, and develops over a day or two. However, the pain associated with diverticulitis is constant and severe, rather than intermittent. Symptoms of diverticulitisĭiverticulitis shares most of the symptoms of diverticular disease (see above). a change in your normal bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhoea, or episodes of constipation that are followed by diarrhoeaĭiverticular disease does not cause weight loss, so if you are losing weight, seeing blood in your stools or experiencing frequent bowel changes, see your GP.Other long-term symptoms of diverticular disease include: If it moves to one side of your lower abdomen this will usually be in the lower left-hand side but not always. The pain may be in the midline, but may be to one side, depending on the severity of the symptoms/ complications. Symptoms of diverticular disease include intermittent (stop-start) pain in your lower abdomen below the umbilicus (belly button) and feeling bloated. One in four people who develop diverticula will experience symptoms. This gives bacteria in the stool the chance to multiply and spread, triggering an infection. It is thought an infection develops when a hard piece of stool or undigested food gets trapped in one of the pouches. This occurs when diverticula (pouches) become inflamed and infected causing significant lower abdominal pain. This occurs when diverticula (pouches) cause intermittent lower abdominal (stomach) pain. Most people with diverticula will not have any symptoms. This occurs when diverticula (pouches) are present without symptoms.
The pressure of hard stools (poo) passing through the large intestine is thought to cause the pouches to form. The large intestine (colon) becomes weaker with age. The exact reason why diverticula develop is not known but they are associated with not eating enough fibre.ĭiverticula are common and associated with getting older.
These are pouches (small bulges) that push through the muscular wall of the colon. About diverticula, diverticular disease and diverticulitisīelow are descriptions of the related conditions and their medical names. The large intestine is the final processing area for digested food. Diverticular disease and diverticulitis are related conditions that affect the large intestine (colon).
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