HomeHealth articlesdiverticulitisDiverticulitis: Causes, Clinical Features, Investigations, and Treatment

Diverticulitis: Causes, Clinical Features, Investigations, and Treatment

Verified dataVerified data
0
Diverticulitis: Causes, Clinical Features, Investigations, and Treatment

1 min read

Share

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticulum which is the abnormal outpouching of the large intestine wall, resulting in abdominal pain, fever, etc.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At June 14, 2018
Reviewed AtOctober 5, 2023

Inflammation of the outpouched part of the large intestinal wall, that is, inflammation of the diverticuli.

Causes

The exact cause is not clearly understood, but risk factors are as follows:

  1. Obesity.
  2. Smoking.
  3. Sedentary lifestyle.
  4. Less fiber in the diet.
  5. Fried non-vegetarian diet.

Clinical Features

  1. Few patients can be asymptomatic.
  2. Diarrhea.
  3. Abdominal pain.
  4. Blood in the stool.
  5. Fever.

These symptoms present according to the grade of severity.

Investigations

  1. Barium enema X-ray.
  2. Colonoscopy.
  3. CT scan abdomen.

Treatment

  1. High-fiber diet.
  2. Ispghula husk with milk.
  3. Treat diarrhea with an antidiarrheal drug if needed.
  4. Reduce stress and anxiety.
  5. Treat anemia by iron medication if hemoglobin is low.
  6. Take rest.
  7. Antibiotics like Metronidazole and Cefixime or Ofloxacin (broad-spectrum coverage) can be beneficial.
  8. More fluid intake.
  9. Avoid spicy food.
  10. In complicated cases, surgery is needed.

For more information consult a medical gastroenterologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/medical-gastroenterologist

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Are the Causes of Diverticulitis?

 - Obesity.
 - Smoking.
 - Sedentary lifestyle.
 - Less fiber in the diet.
 - Fried non-vegetarian diet.

2.

What Are the Diagnostic Tests for Diverticulitis?

 - Barium enema X-ray.
 - Colonoscopy.
 - CT scan of the abdomen

3.

What Are Treatment Options for Diverticulitis?

 - High-fiber diet.
 - Ispaghula husk with milk.
 - Treat diarrhea with an antidiarrheal drug if needed.
 - Reduce stress and anxiety.
 - Treat anemia with iron medication if hemoglobin is low.
 - Take rest.
 - Antibiotics like Metronidazole, Cefixime, or Ofloxacin (broad-spectrum coverage) can be beneficial.
 - More fluid intake.
 - Avoid spicy food.
 - In complicated cases, surgery is needed.

4.

What Are the Complications of Diverticulitis?

 - Internal bleeding.
 - Peritonitis.
 - Fistula formation.
 - Difficulty in passing urine.
 - Obstruction in the intestine.

5.

Does Diverticulitis Last Without Therapy?

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula. Diverticuli is the abnormal outpouching of the large intestine wall. A patient in this condition can present with abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. Few can remain asymptomatic as well. Treatment depends upon the severity. Most of them go unnoticed as they present no symptoms.

6.

Can an MRI Reveal or Diagnose Diverticulitis?

Inflammation of the outpouching part of the large intestinal wall is inflammation of the diverticula. There are several diagnostic tools to determine the presence of this condition, and one such modern tool is magnetic resonance imaging of the whole abdomen.

7.

Which Bacteria Causes Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula. The infection in diverticulitis is mainly due to the normal colonic flora discharged into the peritoneal space via a colonic perforation. Polymicrobial infection is thus responsible for the growth of this condition. The most expected organisms include anaerobes, like Bacteroides fragilis, and gram negatives, like Escherichia coli.

8.

Is Diverticulitis Life-Threatening?

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of the diverticula. Diverticuli is the abnormal outpouching of the large intestine wall. A patient in this condition can present with abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. Few can remain asymptomatic as well. Treatment depends upon the severity. The condition requires immediate treatment to avoid irreversible complications.

9.

Where Is Diverticulitis Pain Located?

During diverticula, a patient with constant pain presents with abdominal discomfort, fever, and diarrhea. The lower left side of the abdomen is the site for most cases of diverticulitis.
Source Article IclonSourcesSource Article Arrow
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Pathology

Tags:

diverticulosisdiverticulitisdiverticular bleedingdiverticula
Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Source Article ArrowMost popular articles

Do you have a question on

diverticulitis

Ask a doctor online

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy