Diverticulitis Symptoms
Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticula. It is a common digestive disease that involves the large intestines. Diverticulitis symptoms occurs when one or more of the large intestines’ pouches become inflamed or infected.
Some individuals with diverticulitis symptoms become aware of the condition only when affected with acute diverticulitis.
What Is Diverticulitis?
Diverticula are small pouches in the wall of the digestive tract. When the inner layer of the digestive tract bulges through weak spots in the outer layer, diverticula occur. Picture out an inner tube that bulges through a tire, which is a comparison to diverticula.
Diverticula often occur in the large intestine, usually along the left lower portion of the colon, which is just before the rectum. Diverticula are marble-sized and these usually occur where the blood vessels run through the intestinal wall. Affected individuals who have these pouches are considered to have diverticulosis.
This condition typically does not cause symptoms, such that most affected individuals are unaware that they have diverticulosis. Diverticulitis develops from diverticulosis. If one of the diverticula is inflamed, diverticulitis symptoms occur.
Diverticulitis Symptoms
Having diverticulitis symptoms is a more serious condition. Diverticulitis symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain, usually occurring in the lower left side, which is often sudden and severe
- Less commonly, abdominal pain that may be mild at first but worsens over several days, possibly fluctuating in intensity.
- Rectal bleeding, with bright red to maroon-colored blood in the stool.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habits. At time constipation may be experienced, at times diarrhea.
If diverticulitis symptoms are not treated promptly, it can develop to some very serious complications.
Complications may include worsening of abdominal pain, persistent and intermittent fever, vomiting where no food or liquid can be tolerated, constipation for an extended period of time, and burning pain upon urination and worsening of rectal bleeding.
In complicated diverticulitis, bacteria may subsequently infect the outside of the colon if an inflamed diverticulum bursts open. If the infection reaches the lining of the abdominal cavity, a fatal peritonitis may occur. Inflamed diverticula can also cause narrowing of the bowel, which commonly leads to obstruction.
There is also a bigger possibility that the affected part of the colon could adhere to other organs, commonly the bladder, that could cause a fistula, which is an abnormal connection between an organ and an adjacent structure to the organ.
Diagnosing Diverticulitis Symptoms
If suspected with diverticulitis symptoms, diagnosis can be confirmed with a number of various tests. Barium x-rays and barium enemas are done for the doctor to visualize the colon.
Diverticula are seen as barium filled pouches that protrude from the colon wall. Visualization of the colon is done with flexible tubes inserted through the rectum advancing to the colon. Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be done to assist in the diagnosis and exclude other disease that could occur with the same diverticulitis symptoms.
Sigmoidoscopy is the use of smaller, flexible tube to view the sigmoid colon. The sigmoidoscope can only view the lower third portion of the colon. Colonoscopy is the internal examination of the colon with the use of the colonoscope, which could examine the entire length of the colon.
If the individual is suspected to have diverticular abscess causing persistent pain and fever, a CT scan and ultrasound may be done to fully examine the abdomen and to detect amount of pus fluid.
Diverticulitis symptoms may be worsened if not treated promptly. Individuals with diverticulitis symptoms should be keen to preventing further complications and treating their condition.
