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Diverticulosis [dahy-ver-tik-yuh-LOH-sis] is a condition that impacts about half of people over age 60. It causes small pouches (diverticula) to bulge out through weak spots on the digestive tract — most often on the colon (large intestine). They can also form on the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.
When diverticula become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis [dahy-ver-tik-yuh-LAHY-tis]. Serious cases of diverticulitis may require surgery to remove part of the colon.
In rare cases, an infected diverticula can tear open, spilling intestinal waste into your abdomen. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate care. Other complications may include a blockage in your intestine, an abscess (infection), or a fistula (an abnormal connection between two organs). If a fistula becomes infected, it can be life-threatening. Although there is no evidence that diverticulosis increases your chance of colon or rectal cancer, it can make cancer more difficult to diagnose.
Most people have no noticeable symptoms of diverticulosis until it develops into diverticulitis.
The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain, usually around the left side of the lower abdomen (belly). If the area is infected, you may also have fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, constipation, or bleeding.
Contact your doctor if you have abdominal pain along with:
The diverticula (bulging pouches) form when there is increased pressure inside the colon that results from constipation, straining during a bowel movement, or delaying a bowel movement. Constipation and pressure are often caused by:
Abdominal pain can mean a number of things, so providers may start with a physical exam to rule out other conditions before continuing with other diagnostics. Additional tests include:
Once you have diverticulosis, your goal is to keep it from getting worse and prevent more diverticula from forming. Treat diverticulosis by eating a high-fiber diet and following other preventive measures.
If you have diverticulitis, it requires medical attention. Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend one of the following:
You can prevent or slow these conditions by: