Diverticulitisis the inflammation or infection of the diverticula, small pouches in the intestinal tract caused bydiverticulosis.
Diverticulitis can lead to severe infection, bowel blockage, or afistulaif untreated.
Decreasing the risk of diverticulosis through lifestyle changes can help prevent diverticulitis.
Rockaa/ Getty Images
This article will discuss the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention of diverticulitis.
Rockaa/ Getty Images
What Is Diverticular Disease?
Diverticular disease is the formation of diverticula (pouches or bulges) in the colon.
Diverticular disease is often discovered during acolonoscopy, and the diverticula appear as potholes in the intestinal wall.
Is Diverticulitis a Serious Condition?
When diverticula becomeinflamedor infected, it is called diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis is categorized as either uncomplicated or complicated.
If untreated, complicated diverticulitis can lead to severe health conditions and death.
Complicated diverticulitis occurs in about 12% of people with the condition.
What Is the Main Cause of Diverticulitis?
Many factors can cause diverticulitis.
Who Is Most at Risk for Diverticulitis?
Around 5% of people withdiverticulosishave a risk of getting diverticulitis.
Symptoms of uncomplicated diverticulitis may be left-sided abdominal pain,constipation, ordiarrhea.
Can Diet Trigger Diverticulitis?
Is Diverticulitis Hereditary?
There is growing evidence that diverticulitis could behereditary.
What Causes Diverticulitis to Flare Up?
About 4% to 10% of people with diverticulosis have what’s known as smoldering diverticulitis.
Additional Risk Factors for Diverticulitis
Lifestyle plays a role in the development of diverticulitis.
Complicated diverticulitis can result in severe medical conditions.
If left untreated, it can be fatal.
Although the cause is not fully understood, environmental and genetic factors influence the prevalence of diverticulitis.
Living a healthy lifestyle is one way to prevent diverticulitis.
2020;57(10):100862. doi:10.1016/j.cpsurg.2020.100862
MedlinePlus.Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
American College of Gastroenterology.Diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
2019;156(5):1282-1298.e1.
doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.033
Rezapour M, Ali S, Stollman N.Diverticular disease: An update on pathogenesis and management.Gut Liver.
2018;12(2):125-132. doi:10.5009/gnl16552
Miulescu AM.Colonic diverticulosis.
Is there a genetic component?Maedica (Bucur).
doi:10.1093/hmg/ddx204
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diverticular disease.
