DIVERTICULITIS

DIVERTICULITIS

   Diverticulitis is a condition of the bowel.  It typically presents as cramps or pain in the left lower abdomen lasting more than a few days, especially in people over 60 years old.  The pain may be accompanied with fever, constipation, a bloated feeling, flatulence, loss of appetite, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. 

   So, let's get an idea of how diverticulitis develops:  The inside wall of a normal colon has what appears to be ridges around the lumen (the inside space of the colon):

photo courtesy of doccheck

   The "valleys" between the "ridges" weaken over time and a hole can be seen in the lumen which indicates a bulge or a pouch, called diverticula.  This is referred to as diverticulosis.  Half of the people over 60 have this condition and are unaware they have it.  Ten to twenty-five percent of these will have diverticulosis progress to diverticulitis.

photo courtesy of medline plus

courtesy of webmd

   When the pouches become blocked with waste, inflammation occurs.  Inflammation causes pain.  If the blockage continues or becomes severe, it can result in a tear and spill the contents of the colon into the abdominal cavity. 

photo courtesy of medline plus

   Pain in the left lower quadrant is not necessarily caused by diverticulitis.  However, when pain persists for a few days and is combined with fever, constipation, etc. it is a good idea to consult a doctor.  Remember that pain is our body's way of communicating to us that there is something that requires our attention.


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