Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSevere DiverticulitisSymptomsBurst DiverticulumWhen to Go to the HospitalComplicationsTestsER Treatment for Severe DiverticulitisRecovery From Severe Diverticulitis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Severe Diverticulitis
Symptoms
Burst Diverticulum
When to Go to the Hospital
Complications
Tests
ER Treatment for Severe Diverticulitis
Recovery From Severe Diverticulitis
Severe diverticulitis symptoms, including sudden, intense, and continuing lower-abdominal or low-back pain, ongoing fever, excessive nausea and vomiting, persistent diarrhea, and blood in your stools, indicate you might need to go to the hospital. Severe diverticulitis may lead to complications that require immediate medical attention.
This article reviews severe symptoms of diverticulitis, possible associated complications, how to know when you need to go to the hospital, and what to expect for diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
What Is a Severe Attack of Diverticulitis?
A diverticulum is a small pouch, or sac, that forms and pushes outward through weak spots along the wall of thecolon (large intestine). Having diverticula (the plural for diverticulum) in your colon is calleddiverticulosis.
The condition of having inflamed or infected diverticula is calleddiverticulitis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are both known asdiverticular disease.
A severe diverticulitis attack usually comes on suddenly. However, sometimes symptoms may start mild and increase in severity over several days.The intensity of the pain may vary over time.
Diverticulitis Symptoms
Symptoms of diverticulitis include abdominal pain, fever and chills, nausea, vomiting, and constipation or diarrhea. It is important to seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms. If left untreated, severe diverticulitis can progress into widespread infection.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of diverticulitis. It is most often felt in the lower left side of your abdomen. Pain may also be felt on the right side or in the middle of the lower abdomen.
Abdominal pain and tenderness in a severe diverticulitis attack tend to be persistent and continuous for several days. You might also experience bloating (swelling or feeling of fullness) in the abdomen.
Fever
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea may lead to decreased appetite during severe diverticulitis. In some cases, you might also experience vomiting.
Constipation or Diarrhea
Achange in bowel habitsoften occurs during a diverticulitis flare-up. Constipation is more common in someone with diverticulitis. However, sometimes you may experience loose stools and diarrhea. In severe cases, stool may have mucus or blood in it.
Can You Tell If Your Diverticulum Has Burst?
If your diverticulum has perforated (burst), it may cause an increase in the severity of your symptoms, as well as rapid heart rate, dizziness, light-headedness, or weakness.
A perforated diverticulum may allow bacteria from the bowel to leak into the abdominal cavity. This can lead toperitonitis—an infection of the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity and organs in the abdomen.
A burst diverticulum is a medical emergency and should be treated right away.
When to Go to the Hospital With Diverticulitis
If you are experiencing any symptoms of diverticulitis that are not going away, you should go to the hospital for medical attention. These symptoms include:
Complications of Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis may lead to complications, such as:
Testing to Diagnose Diverticulitis
To diagnose diverticular disease, a healthcare provider will first review your medical history. They will also perform a physical exam. The physical exam may involve feeling your abdomen, using a stethoscope to listen for sounds in your abdomen, and checking your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
You can also expect several tests to be ordered to help rule out other conditions and make an accuratediagnosis. These may include:
Conditions That Mimic Diverticulitis
Several conditions must be ruled out before a diagnosis of diverticulitis is made. This is because they often present with similar symptoms.
These include:
Severe diverticulitis generally warrants treatment in the hospital. This is especially true if you have developed any complications or have a high risk for complications.
Treatments for diverticulitis may include:
If you haveabscesses, your healthcare provider may:
If your diverticulitis doesn’t improve with less-invasive treatments or if you develop complications, surgery may be recommended to remove part of your colon. This is called acolectomyor colon resection.
Surgery is usually recommended to treat diverticulitis complications such as perforations, peritonitis, fistulas, and intestinal obstructions.
As part of your recovery, you may be admitted to the hospital for a couple of days to stay until your symptoms improve and/or you recover from surgery.
As you are recovered, you may also be counseled to exercise regularly to help prevent future diverticulitis flare-ups. Your healthcare provider may also recommend acolonoscopyafter fully recovering from diverticulitis to rule out colon cancer.
Diverticulitis and Colonoscopy: What to Know
Summary
Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of diverticula in the colon. Severe diverticulitis symptoms include persistent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and constipation. Severe diverticulitis may lead to complications that require immediate medical attention.
If a diverticulum has perforated (burst), it may cause an increase in the severity of your symptoms, as well as rapid heart rate, dizziness, light-headedness, or weakness. It may also lead to a serious complication known as peritonitis. Other potential complications of diverticulitis include abscess, fistula, and intestinal obstruction.
In the hospital, your healthcare provider will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order tests to help accurately diagnose diverticulitis. In some cases, diverticulitis may be treated with antibiotics, pain medication, and bowel rest. However, more severe cases may require surgery.
You may need to recover in the hospital for a short time until your symptoms improve. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to add more foods back into your diet, what medications to take and which ones to avoid, physical activity, as well as any recommended follow-up tests and procedures.
8 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Peritonitis.National Library of Medicine.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis - discharge.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Khalil HA, Yoo J.Colorectal emergencies: perforated diverticulitis (operative and nonoperative management).J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;18(4):865-868. doi:10.1007/s11605-013-2352-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002
8 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Peritonitis.National Library of Medicine.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis - discharge.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Khalil HA, Yoo J.Colorectal emergencies: perforated diverticulitis (operative and nonoperative management).J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;18(4):865-868. doi:10.1007/s11605-013-2352-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002
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.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Peritonitis.National Library of Medicine.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis - discharge.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.Khalil HA, Yoo J.Colorectal emergencies: perforated diverticulitis (operative and nonoperative management).J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;18(4):865-868. doi:10.1007/s11605-013-2352-9National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Peritonitis.
National Library of Medicine.Diverticulitis and diverticulosis - discharge.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for diverticular disease.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of diverticular disease.
Khalil HA, Yoo J.Colorectal emergencies: perforated diverticulitis (operative and nonoperative management).J Gastrointest Surg. 2014;18(4):865-868. doi:10.1007/s11605-013-2352-9
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.
American Gastroenterological Association.A patient guide: managing diverticulitis.Gastroenterology. 2015;149(7):1977-1978. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.002
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