Approximately half of the population at the age of sixty and around 90% of those at the age of eighty are affected by it. However, only a low percentage of individuals with diverticular disease of the colon experience symptoms.
WHAT ARE DIVERTICULOSIS AND DIVERTICULITIS?
Diverticulosis refers to the presence of diverticula in the colon, while diverticulitis is the inflammation of these diverticula. These are actual "pouches" that form in the wall of the colon, more frequently in the left colon (descending colon and sigmoid colon); however, they can affect the entire colon. The diverticular wall has an extremely thin musculature compared to the normal musculature of the colon.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIVERTICULA?
Diverticulosis of the colon (the presence of diverticula without inflammation) is virtually asymptomatic. Diverticula can start with bleeding, often very profuse (they represent one of the main causes of bleeding throughout the gastrointestinal tract): the patient passes large quantities of feces mixed with blood or bright red blood, repeatedly, leading to rapid anemia. Hospitalization is usually required. Diverticulitis (inflammation of the diverticula) typically manifests with abdominal pain, often localized to the left quadrants of the abdomen, fever with chills, and signs of intestinal obstruction. More severe symptoms can include perforation, leading to peritonitis, which requires immediate hospitalization and often emergency surgery.
HOW DO DIVERTICULA FORM?
The exact causes of their formation are not specified, but their incidence is high in individuals who do not consume sufficient amounts of fiber in their diet. This condition could result in increased stool consistency, leading to higher pressure inside the colon. This, in turn, creates areas of lower resistance in the colon's musculature, leading to the formation of these "pouches."
HOW IS DIVERTICULAR DISEASE TREATED?
First and foremost, it is recommended to increase fiber intake in the diet (bran, wheat, legumes, vegetables, fruits...) and decrease the consumption of certain foods like animal fats, beef, pork, fried foods, and condiments. Diverticulitis is usually treated with antibiotics and dietary changes. More severe cases still require hospitalization: intravenous antibiotic and nutritional therapy is administered while food intake is suspended for a few days.
WHEN IS SURGICAL THERAPY NECESSARY?
Surgical intervention becomes necessary when a patient experiences repeated episodes of acute diverticulitis that do not respond to medical treatment. Surgery to resect a section of the colon is, of course, necessary when bleeding is so profuse that it causes severe anemia, when peritonitis develops due to diverticular perforation, or when there is a case of intractable intestinal obstruction that doesn't respond to medical treatment.
WHAT ARE DIVERTICULOSIS AND DIVERTICULITIS?
Diverticulosis refers to the presence of diverticula in the colon, while diverticulitis is the inflammation of these diverticula. These are actual "pouches" that form in the wall of the colon, more frequently in the left colon (descending colon and sigmoid colon); however, they can affect the entire colon. The diverticular wall has an extremely thin musculature compared to the normal musculature of the colon.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIVERTICULA?
Diverticulosis of the colon (the presence of diverticula without inflammation) is virtually asymptomatic. Diverticula can start with bleeding, often very profuse (they represent one of the main causes of bleeding throughout the gastrointestinal tract): the patient passes large quantities of feces mixed with blood or bright red blood, repeatedly, leading to rapid anemia. Hospitalization is usually required. Diverticulitis (inflammation of the diverticula) typically manifests with abdominal pain, often localized to the left quadrants of the abdomen, fever with chills, and signs of intestinal obstruction. More severe symptoms can include perforation, leading to peritonitis, which requires immediate hospitalization and often emergency surgery.
HOW DO DIVERTICULA FORM?
The exact causes of their formation are not specified, but their incidence is high in individuals who do not consume sufficient amounts of fiber in their diet. This condition could result in increased stool consistency, leading to higher pressure inside the colon. This, in turn, creates areas of lower resistance in the colon's musculature, leading to the formation of these "pouches."
HOW IS DIVERTICULAR DISEASE TREATED?
First and foremost, it is recommended to increase fiber intake in the diet (bran, wheat, legumes, vegetables, fruits...) and decrease the consumption of certain foods like animal fats, beef, pork, fried foods, and condiments. Diverticulitis is usually treated with antibiotics and dietary changes. More severe cases still require hospitalization: intravenous antibiotic and nutritional therapy is administered while food intake is suspended for a few days.
WHEN IS SURGICAL THERAPY NECESSARY?
Surgical intervention becomes necessary when a patient experiences repeated episodes of acute diverticulitis that do not respond to medical treatment. Surgery to resect a section of the colon is, of course, necessary when bleeding is so profuse that it causes severe anemia, when peritonitis develops due to diverticular perforation, or when there is a case of intractable intestinal obstruction that doesn't respond to medical treatment.