Understanding Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis - Symptoms, Diet and Treatment

Diverticulosis occurs when something called a diverticula (a small pouch) develops in the digestive system. The pouches can be there for some time without bothering people but if they get infected or inflamed, people develop what is called diverticulitis. Only a small percentage of people actually develop this condition.

Symptoms of diverticulitis include stomach pain that comes and goes, fever, upset stomach, and severe changes in bowel habits. Some people experience diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting as well. The symptoms occur when the small pouches get infected or rupture. No one knows exactly why this happens but there are some factors that are thought to contribute to the infections or ruptures. As we get older, our intestines and bowels change and become weaker and less elastic. We can't control that, but there are risk factors that cant be controlled.

If you do not get enough exercise and if you are overweight, you are more likely to suffer from diverticulitis. Your diet is another factor you can control. Increasing your fiber intake helps keep your stools soft and bulky, which makes it less likely that the diverticula will develop problems.

If you develop diverticulitis, you are at risk for serious medical complications. You can develop a blockage from scarring, you can have an abscess if pus builds up in the pouch, or you could develop peritonitis, the most common and the most severe complication. Peritonitis occurs when the diverticula ruptures and the contents end up in the abdomen. This can cause the peritoneum tissue to become inflamed, requiring treatment immediately, possibly surgery. If you don't treat this, the toxins can make their way into your system and you can develop a high fever and an increase in white blood cells.

Surgery can sometimes be avoided if people adjust their diet to include more fiber and possibly go on a liquid diet for a few days. Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics to treat any infection. Sometimes, surgery is needed, though, which may mean a primary bowel resection where a section of the bowel is removed and repairs are made.

Only your doctor can recommend the right course of treatment. He may want to do a CT (computer tomography) scan that uses X-ray to provide him with images of the abdomen so he can examine them and determine what the best course of treatment is for your particular case. If you want to avoid diverticulitis, you should exercise regularly, get lots of fiber in your diet, and stay hydrated. You may also want to take fiber supplements.