3 minute read
Diagnosis: Diverticulitis
KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND LEARN HOW TO PREVENT THIS INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection of the pouches that can form in the colon. These are called diverticula. If you develop them, it is called diverticulosis and they are usually harmless.
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Diverticulitis is a form of colitis — an inflammatory bowel disease. It is quite common, with more than 200,000 cases per year in United States. It is especially prevalent in people ages 35 to 50 years. Doctors and researchers aren’t sure what causes diverticula to become inflamed or infected, but the most widely accepted theory is that increased pressure in the colon, caused by constipation or other digestive problems, can lead to tears in the wall of a diverticulum. Bacteria or hard fecal material present in the intestine can then become lodged there, causing inflammation and infection.
Symptoms of diverticulitis include sudden pain or cramping in the lower left side of the abdomen that goes away after you pass gas or have a bowel movement; nausea; fever; bloating or gas; and constipation. Your doctor will diagnose diverticulitis by testing for tenderness in the abdomen. He may do a complete blood count to check for an infection or test a stool sample to see if there is blood in it. A CT scan of the abdomen will identify inflamed or infected pouches. A colonoscopy may be utilized as well to find inflamed diverticula or intestinal bleeding.
Diverticulitis can be either chronic or acute. Chronic diverticulitis never clears up completely and can cause complications such as abscesses (when collections of pus from the infection form around the infected diverticula); bowel obstruction; and bleeding. Some of these complications will require surgery. In some cases, the physician will insert a small tube through an incision in your abdomen to drain pus from infected diverticula. Peritonitis occurs when an abscess goes through the intestinal wall, spilling intestinal contents into your abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate care. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you have bowel movements or foul-smelling discharge leaking from your vagina or in your urine; if you have severe diarrhea; if you are not able to have a bowel movement; or you cannot stop vomiting.
Risk factors for developing diverticulitis include being overweight, smoking, eating a diet full of animal fat and red meat and taking certain drugs, including steroids, opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Eating nuts, seeds or popcorn has not been shown to increase the risk of developing diverticulitis.
Treatment includes antibiotics that stop infectious bacteria from multiplying. If you have a mild case, you may be advised to rest and go on a liquid diet to allow your intestines to heal.
Fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains soften waste material, add bulk to it and help it pass more quickly and easily through your colon. Drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to promote normal bowel function and reduce pressure in the colon. If you have diverticulitis, you’ll want to avoid eating foods such as broccoli, cabbage, corn and fatty foods.
Sources:
• Everyday Health (www.everydayhealth.com)
• Focus Medica (www.focusmedica.com)
• Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org)
• Stay Healthy (www.Stayhealthy.com)
• WebMd (www.webmd.com)
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