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5 Things You Must Know About Diverticulitis

1. Diverticulitis is one type of digestive tract disease that commonly occurred in the large intestine. This term is derived from diverticula (pouch) and -itis (suffix to indicate inflammation). Diverticulitis is the end product of a condition named diverticulosis, which is a formation of diverticula on the outside wall of the large intestine. When one of those pouches become inflamed (either by secondary infection or immunologic response), diverticulitis happens. The etiology of this disease is not yet clearly defined, some experts say that low-fiber diet, which cause colon to push the stool harder, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diverticulitis.

2. Anyone can be affected by Diverticulitis disease. But the tendency of getting diverticulitis is increasing with age. Epidemiological data published shows that middle-aged and elderly are at the highest risk for developing diverticulitis. According to recent epidemiological publication, 65% of people aged above 85 years can be expected to be affected by some form of diverticular disease of the colon. Younger patients with central obesity are also at higher risk of diverticulitis. Sigmoid colon, the left part of your large intestine, is the most prevalent site for having diverticulitis (95% patients).

3. Diverticulitis can be diagnosed by thorough history taking, which will reveal classic triad signs of left lower abdominal pain, fever, and leukocytosis (increase in white cell count). Other common symptoms involve nausea, diarrhea, muscle cramping, or bloating. Patient's complaint will depend on the extent of infection and the severity of complication. Gold standard for diagnostic is using abdominal CT Scan (sensitivity 98%) with oral or intravascular contrast administered previously. CT Scan will show thickening and hyperemia of the inflamed area with inflammation extending to surrounding fatty tissue of the colon. The diagnostic can be made when there is a diverticulae on that segment.

4. Simple and uncomplicated diverticulitis can be treated with bowel rest and antibiotics. Low fiber diet, which is suspected as the causal of diverticulitis, will be indicated for people who already have diverticulitis, to give the large intestine adequate time for healing without overworked it. Heating pad placed on your belly can reduce the muscle cramping and pain and will relax your abdominal wall. Taking analgesics such as acetaminophen is allowed to alleviate the pain. Complicated cases with peritonitis, fistula, or abscess may need surgery. Nowadays, the operation can be done through laparoscopic procedure where doctor only needs to make a small incision on your abdominal wall. The operator will then consider the bowel condition, and if needed will resect some part of your inflamed bowel. Although laparoscopic surgery is still not available on most places, but this approach is favoured by many doctors because it makes the post-op pain minimal and patient can recover faster.

5. Left untreated, there are some serious complications of diverticulitis. Bacteria can enter diverticula and create secondary infection there, leading to peritonitis, where your entire abdominal inner wall becomes inflamed. The inflamed pouch will make the bowel lumen narrower, which will lead to bowel obstruction. Inflamed colon can also adhere to surrounding organs like the bladder, and subsequently leads to abnormal connection between them (called as fistulas). Other common complications are bleeding, abscess, and strictures. Prompt and proper treatment can hinder these complications.