What is it about ?
A diverticulum is a hernia or pocket-like growth that begins in the intestine, especially the end of the colon. It is benign.
The diverticulosis is the disease characterized by the presence of diverticula.
The diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of a diverticulum.
Where does it occur?
Diverticulosis mainly occurs from the age of 50.
How to recognize it?
The diverticulosis usually does not cause symptoms. Sometimes it causes cramps or problems with the stool, which are symptoms that we also experience with irritable bowel syndrome. Bleeding into a diverticulum can cause red blood to appear in the stool.
The diverticulitis cause a pain in the lower left part of the stomach. Palpation of the abdomen is painful. There is often a slight fever. You may feel sick or nauseous.
How is the diagnosis made?
Diverticulosis is diagnosed using an X-ray examination or a colonoscopy (diagnosis by endoscopy). Your GP will possibly do a blood test to check for signs of inflammation. He will refer you to the hospital for a CT scan of the abdomen or an X-ray with contrast medium if severe diverticulitis is suspected.
What can you do ?
Try to avoid constipation as much as possible. Even if your stools are normal, it’s best to eat enough fiber. Fiber is found especially in wholemeal bread and rye bread, potatoes, whole-grain pasta, brown rice, legumes (beans, peas, lentils), vegetables (including raw vegetables) and fruits.
What can your doctor do?
The general practitioner will assess the severity of the diverticulitis. To do this, it is based on the following parameters: high fever, abnormal examination of the belly and high inflammatory values in the blood. In the presence of these parameters, hospitalization is required. Antibiotics may be administered there intravenously.
When diverticulitis is not too severe, it can be treated at home with antibiotics and sufficient fluid if needed. Your doctor may prescribe paracetamol for pain. If, with this treatment, the improvement is insufficient within 48 hours, the general practitioner will also refer you to the hospital.
In case of complications such as intra-abdominal abscess, intestinal perforation, fistula formation and inflammation of the abdominal cavity, surgery may be necessary.
Young and middle-aged people who regularly suffer from exceptionally severe diverticulitis or who have complications can be treated with surgery. This operation removes the affected part of the large intestine. Most often, it is a laparoscopic surgery.
Want to know more?
- Radiography, here, Where to find on this page of Cliniques St Luc UCL
- The scanner, here, Where to find on this page of Cliniques St Luc UCL
- Colonoscopy – Erasme Hospital
- Paracetamol – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
- Laparoscopy – Erasme Hospital
Sources