Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsWhat It Feels LikePossible TriggersDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
What It Feels Like
Possible Triggers
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
According to the American Gastroenterological Association, roughly one in five people who experiencediverticulitiswill have a diverticulitis flare-up within five years. Symptoms usually develop within a few days, causing lower left abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and cramping.
Diverticulitis symptoms can mimic those of other conditions, so it’s important to recognize not only the signs ofdiverticular diseasebut also the risk factors that contribute to attacks. Knowing the signs allows you to take immediate steps to treat symptoms and prevent recurrence.
What Is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulosisis a condition in which you develop multiple pouches (calleddiverticula) in your colon due to weaknesses in the colon wall. These pouches are typically benign and cause no problems. Most develop in thesigmoid colon, the lowest part of the colon adjacent to the rectum.
Diverticular disease occurs when the diverticula suddenly becomes inflamed, a condition known as diverticulitis. It is not always clear what causes the sudden burst of inflammation, but age plays a major role in that the disease mainly affects adults over 60 and is uncommon in those under 40.
Among people with diverticulosis, between 4% and 15% will go on to experience diverticulitis.
Is Diverticulitis Common?All told, around 5% of the U.S. population will experience diverticulitis at some point in their lives. Over 200,000 are hospitalized for treatment each year.
Is Diverticulitis Common?
All told, around 5% of the U.S. population will experience diverticulitis at some point in their lives. Over 200,000 are hospitalized for treatment each year.
What Does a Diverticulitis Flare-Up Feel Like?
Whether you have a first bout of diverticulitis or recurrent flare-ups (referred to aschronicdiverticulitis), the symptoms feel the same.
The attack itself, referred to asacutediverticulitis, tends to strike suddenly and cause symptoms like:
Once treated, most people will feel better within a few days, although some cases can take longer.
Can Diverticulitis Cause Right-Sided Pain?In Asia, diverticulosis usually occurs in theascending colonon the right side of the abdomen, as opposed to North America and Europe where the pain is usually felt on the lower left side where the sigmoid colon is located. Differences in diets are thought to account for the disparity.
Can Diverticulitis Cause Right-Sided Pain?
In Asia, diverticulosis usually occurs in theascending colonon the right side of the abdomen, as opposed to North America and Europe where the pain is usually felt on the lower left side where the sigmoid colon is located. Differences in diets are thought to account for the disparity.
What Can Trigger a Diverticulitis Flare-Up?
It is not known what causes or triggers a diverticulitis flare-up, but certain factors are known to increase your risk, including:
Certain medicinesmay also contribute to diverticulitis, particularly the prolonged use of medications including:
Although genetics and family history of diverticulitis can predispose you to diverticular disease, it does not increase your risk of recurrence, according to a 2023 study published inDiseases of the Colon and Rectum.
What Doesn’t Cause Diverticulosis?Although coffee has long been demonized as a trigger of diverticulitis—along with nuts, grains, corn, and popcorn—there is no evidence that they either cause or trigger the disease. In fact, nuts and grains are today considered protective against the development of diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
What Doesn’t Cause Diverticulosis?
Although coffee has long been demonized as a trigger of diverticulitis—along with nuts, grains, corn, and popcorn—there is no evidence that they either cause or trigger the disease. In fact, nuts and grains are today considered protective against the development of diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
How Diverticulitis Is Diagnosed
The diagnosis of diverticulitis typically starts with a review of your symptoms and medical history along with a physical exam. The exam will involvepalpation(light touching) of your stomach to check for signs of pain, swelling, or tenderness.
Other tests may be ordered based on the initial findings, including:
Ruling Out Other Possible Causes
Diverticulitis can be hard to distinguish from other diseases based on symptoms alone. Because of this, additional tests may be ordered to exclude possible causes. This ensures the right treatment is dispensed.
Conditions exploded in thedifferential diagnosisinclude:
What to Know About Getting a Diverticulitis Diagnosis
What to Do When Diverticulitis Flares Up
Self-Care and Home Remedies
For mild flare-ups, the focus of treatment is placed on diet and pain relief. These typically include the following self-care remedies:
Foods to Avoid With Diverticulitis
Medications
Antibioticsare not recommended for mild diverticulitis as they have not been shown to significantly alter the course of the disease and may contribute toantibiotic resistanceif overused or used inappropriately.
If symptoms are severe, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. These are generally reserved for uncomplicated cases where conservative measures fall short.
Preferred oral options include:
People hospitalized for diverticulitis may need intravenous (IV) antibiotics, in which the drugs are delivered into a vein in your arm.
Intravenous options include:
Diverticulitis Surgery
In such cases, surgery may be indicated to not only treat the complication but also prevent therupture of the colonthat can lead toperitonitis(inflammation of the abdominal cavity) and a potentially deadly, whole-body inflammatory response known assepsis.
Diverticulitis surgery typically involves a bowel resection—also known as acolectomy—to remove the diseased portion of the colon. This can be done with traditional open surgery but is more commonly performed withlaparoscopic surgery(also known as “keyhole surgery”).
After the resection, the cut ends may be surgically reattached or the bowel may need to be redirected through a hole in the abdominal wall using a procedure known as anileostomy.
An ileostomy is a life-saving measure that may be permanent or temporary.Once performed, waste is collected in a bag worn outside the body. Most people only need an ileostomy for several months while the large intestine heals.
10 Diverticulitis Self-Care Tips
How to Prevent Diverticulitis Flare-Ups
It may not be possible to prevent diverticulitis flare-ups given that the underlying cause is not always known. Even so, certain lifestyle adjustments can greatly reduce the risk.
These include:
What Causes Diverticulitis?
Summary
Diverticular disease is common and doesn’t usually cause any symptoms. When diverticula become inflamed, they can cause left-sided abdominal pain, fever, cramping, and diarrhea. This is a diverticulitis flare-up.
Changes in diet, heat pads, and Tylenol may be enough to manage the symptoms. In severe cases, hospitalization, antibiotics, and surgery may be needed.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002MedlinePlus.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis.Hawkins AT, Wise PE, Chan T.Diverticulitis – an update from the age old paradigm.Curr Probl Surg. 2020 Oct;57(10):100862. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41:111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.Sung CW Liu KL, Wang HP, et al.Colonic diverticulitis location is a risk factor for recurrence: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study in Asian patients.Sci Rep.2022;12:4559. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08708-wBohm SK.Risk factors for diverticulosis, diverticulitis, diverticular perforation, and bleeding: a plea for more subtle history taking.Viszeralmedizin.2015 Apr;31(2):84–94. doi:10.1159/000381867Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Hanson HA, et al.The association between family history and diverticulitis recurrence: a population-based study.Dis Colon Rectum.2023 Feb 1;66(2):269-277. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000002178National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Lembcke B.Diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and classification of diverticular disease.Viszeralmedizin. 2015 Apr;31(2):95-102. doi:10.1159/000380833National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Best practices in the diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis and biliary tract infections.Holmer C, Mallmann CA, Musch MA, Kreis ME, Gröne J.Surgical management of iatrogenic perforation of the gastrointestinal tract: 15 years of experience in a single center.World J Surg. 2017;41(8):1961-1965. doi:10.1007/s00268-017-3986-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002MedlinePlus.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis.Hawkins AT, Wise PE, Chan T.Diverticulitis – an update from the age old paradigm.Curr Probl Surg. 2020 Oct;57(10):100862. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41:111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.Sung CW Liu KL, Wang HP, et al.Colonic diverticulitis location is a risk factor for recurrence: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study in Asian patients.Sci Rep.2022;12:4559. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08708-wBohm SK.Risk factors for diverticulosis, diverticulitis, diverticular perforation, and bleeding: a plea for more subtle history taking.Viszeralmedizin.2015 Apr;31(2):84–94. doi:10.1159/000381867Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Hanson HA, et al.The association between family history and diverticulitis recurrence: a population-based study.Dis Colon Rectum.2023 Feb 1;66(2):269-277. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000002178National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Lembcke B.Diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and classification of diverticular disease.Viszeralmedizin. 2015 Apr;31(2):95-102. doi:10.1159/000380833National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Best practices in the diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis and biliary tract infections.Holmer C, Mallmann CA, Musch MA, Kreis ME, Gröne J.Surgical management of iatrogenic perforation of the gastrointestinal tract: 15 years of experience in a single center.World J Surg. 2017;41(8):1961-1965. doi:10.1007/s00268-017-3986-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002MedlinePlus.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis.Hawkins AT, Wise PE, Chan T.Diverticulitis – an update from the age old paradigm.Curr Probl Surg. 2020 Oct;57(10):100862. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41:111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.Sung CW Liu KL, Wang HP, et al.Colonic diverticulitis location is a risk factor for recurrence: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study in Asian patients.Sci Rep.2022;12:4559. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08708-wBohm SK.Risk factors for diverticulosis, diverticulitis, diverticular perforation, and bleeding: a plea for more subtle history taking.Viszeralmedizin.2015 Apr;31(2):84–94. doi:10.1159/000381867Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Hanson HA, et al.The association between family history and diverticulitis recurrence: a population-based study.Dis Colon Rectum.2023 Feb 1;66(2):269-277. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000002178National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Lembcke B.Diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and classification of diverticular disease.Viszeralmedizin. 2015 Apr;31(2):95-102. doi:10.1159/000380833National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Best practices in the diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis and biliary tract infections.Holmer C, Mallmann CA, Musch MA, Kreis ME, Gröne J.Surgical management of iatrogenic perforation of the gastrointestinal tract: 15 years of experience in a single center.World J Surg. 2017;41(8):1961-1965. doi:10.1007/s00268-017-3986-7National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.
American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002
MedlinePlus.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis.
Hawkins AT, Wise PE, Chan T.Diverticulitis – an update from the age old paradigm.Curr Probl Surg. 2020 Oct;57(10):100862. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.
Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41:111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307
American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.
Sung CW Liu KL, Wang HP, et al.Colonic diverticulitis location is a risk factor for recurrence: a multicenter, retrospective cohort study in Asian patients.Sci Rep.2022;12:4559. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08708-w
Bohm SK.Risk factors for diverticulosis, diverticulitis, diverticular perforation, and bleeding: a plea for more subtle history taking.Viszeralmedizin.2015 Apr;31(2):84–94. doi:10.1159/000381867
Cohan JN, Horns JJ, Hanson HA, et al.The association between family history and diverticulitis recurrence: a population-based study.Dis Colon Rectum.2023 Feb 1;66(2):269-277. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000002178
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.
Lembcke B.Diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and classification of diverticular disease.Viszeralmedizin. 2015 Apr;31(2):95-102. doi:10.1159/000380833
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Best practices in the diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis and biliary tract infections.
Holmer C, Mallmann CA, Musch MA, Kreis ME, Gröne J.Surgical management of iatrogenic perforation of the gastrointestinal tract: 15 years of experience in a single center.World J Surg. 2017;41(8):1961-1965. doi:10.1007/s00268-017-3986-7
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Types of ostomy surgery of the bowel.
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