Diverticulitis Signs & Symptoms

Diverticulitis signs and symptoms are similar to other digestive ailments. Fortunately, the symptoms for the disease are generally considered simple to treat and produce fairly positive results.

What Is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula, small pouches that form on the walls of the small and large intestine, particularly in the colon. Generally, when the diverticula become inflamed, they press through the intestine wall and become irritated and then later infected. The narrow openings of the diverticula may also suffer from a reduced blood supply, causing more inflammation. Researchers also feel that there may be some relation to bacteria in the fecal matter that may be trapped by an inflamed diverticulum. The fecal matter cannot be processed along as normal, which starts to turn the environment even more toxic.

Diverticulitis Symptoms
Among the most common symptoms of diverticulitis is abdominal pain, which is considered somewhat severe. The pain may be concentrated on the left side or spread to the center of the abdomen. Rectal bleeding, painful urination and diarrhea are also common with diverticulitis. Because there is infection present, those who suffer from the disease may also experience spiking fevers.

Diagnosing Diverticulitis
Only a doctor can properly diagnose diverticulitis because there are many digestive conditions whose signs and symptoms mimic the disease. Irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and Crohn's disease all share similar symptoms as diverticulitis. To explore whether the patient is suffering from diverticulitis, the physician will perform a physical to assess abdominal pain. Blood samples will be taken and analyzed for any increase in white blood cells, a sign of infection. A CT scan can also assist the physician in positively identifying inflamed diverticula.

Treatments
A variety of medicines are available to treat diverticulitis, depending on the severity of symptoms and other physical conditions. Diet can exacerbate diverticulitis symptoms, and so patients are generally counseled to consume plenty of liquids and stick to a low-fiber diet. Anti-bacterial drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs are also part of the treatment plan for diverticulitis. Between rest, diet and medications, the signs and symptoms of the disease start to go away within three to seven days (for mild cases).