Treatment of Diverticulitis

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis.

Diverticulitis is a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis, which involves the formation of pouches (diverticula) on the outside of the colon. Diverticulitis results if one of these diverticula becomes inflamed. Diverticulitis happens when pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of the colon and then get inflamed or infected.

Risk factors of Diverticulitis

Aging. You’re more likely to get diverticulitis if you’re over the age of 40, although it’s not known why. It may be due to age-related changes, such as a decrease in strength and elasticity of your bowel wall, that lead to diverticulitis.

These sacs, called diverticula, occur more often after the age of 40. When they become inflamed, the condition is known as diverticulitis. Diverticula are thought to develop as a result of high pressure or abnormal pressure distribution in the colon. High pressure against the colon wall causes pouches of the intestinal lining to bulge outward through small defects in the colon wall.

Symptoms of Diverticulosis

Most people with diverticulosis have few or no symptoms. Doctors refer to diverticulosis with no symptoms as asymptomatic diverticulosis. For people who experience symptoms, the condition is called symptomatic diverticulosis.

A computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound scan may be helpful for determining that the problem is diverticulitis and not appendicitis or an abscess.

Pain in the abdomen, usually in the lower left side. Bleeding: Bright red or maroon blood may appear in the toilet, on toilet paper, or in your stool. Bleeding can be severe and often stops by itself.

How is diverticular disease treated?

For mild cases of diverticulitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. He or she may also suggest that you eat more fiber, drink plenty of fluids and exercise regularly to help prevent future problems.

If your condition calls for home treatment, expect to remain quiet for a few days. You’ll also temporarily need to avoid all whole grains, fruits and vegetables so that your colon can rest and heal. Once your symptoms improve often in two to four days you can gradually start increasing the amount of high-fiber foods in your diet.

Diverticulitis that does not respond to medical treatment requires surgical intervention. Surgery usually involves drainage of any collections of pus and resection of that segment of the colon containing the diverticuli, usually the sigmoid colon. Therefore, surgical removal of the bleeding diverticula is necessary for those with persistent bleeding.

By: James Sameul

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