What are the complications of diverticulosis?

Some complications associated with diverticulitis are discussed below.
  • Bleeding. Around 15% of people with diverticular disease or diverticulitis experience bleeding, which is usually painless, quick and resolves itself in 70-80% of cases. ...
  • Urinary problems. ...
  • Abscess. ...
  • Fistula. ...
  • Peritonitis. ...
  • Intestinal obstruction.


What are the possible complications of diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis may lead to several complications including inflammation, infection, bleeding or intestinal blockage. Fortunately, diverticulosis does not lead to cancer. Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become infected or inflamed.

What happens if diverticulosis is not treated?

If you don't treat it, diverticulitis can lead to serious complications that require surgery: Abscesses, collections of pus from the infection, may form around the infected diverticula. If these go through the intestinal wall, you could get peritonitis. This infection can be fatal.


What organs are affected by diverticulosis?

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis

Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. They are found most often in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). Diverticula are common, especially after age 40, and seldom cause problems.

What are the two main causes of diverticulosis?

CAUSES. The most commonly accepted theory for the formation of diverticulosis is related to high pressure within the colon, which causes weak areas of the colon wall to bulge out and form the sacs. A diet low in fiber and high in red meat may also play a role.


Diverticular Disease - Diagnosis, Complications and Management



What is the best thing to do for diverticulosis?

Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.

What is the best treatment for diverticulosis?

Rest, taking over-the-counter medications for pain and following a low-fiber diet or a liquid diet may be recommended until your symptoms improve. Once your symptoms improve, you can slowly return to soft foods, then a more normal diet, which should be one that includes many high-fiber foods.

What is the most common complication of diverticulosis?

The most common complication of diverticulitis is an abscess outside the large intestine (colon). An abscess is a pus-filled cavity or lump in the tissue.


How long can you live with diverticulosis?

It's much less common — 1 or 2% — in patients less than age 30. How long could a person live with diverticulosis before it's detected? The vast majority of patients would live their whole lives without having any sort of complication.

Do you have diverticulosis for life?

Most people who have diverticulosis have no symptoms. Once these pouches have formed, you will have them for life. Up to 25% of people with the condition will develop diverticulitis. This occurs when small pieces of stool become trapped in the pouches, causing infection or swelling.

What are bowel movements like with diverticulosis?

Participants with diverticulosis were more likely to report loose stools (odds ratio [OR], 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.96), urgency (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.02-2.63), passing mucus (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.08-4.72), and a high stool frequency (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.11-3.65).


How do you feel when you have diverticulosis?

You can have diverticulosis and not have any pain or symptoms. But symptoms may include mild cramps, swelling or bloating, and constipation. These symptoms can also be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, or other health problems. These symptoms don't always mean that you have diverticulosis.

Which is worse diverticulitis or diverticulosis?

Diverticulitis is more serious because infection can lead to other problems. Diverticulosis leads to diverticulitis in about 1 out of 5 to 1 out of 7 cases. Researchers think a diet low in fiber is to blame for a high incidence of diverticulosis.

Can diverticulosis become cancerous?

The recent literature does not identify diverticular disease as a long-term risk factor for colorectal cancer. However, the risk of colorectal cancer is increased in the short-term period after hospitalization related to diverticular disease.


When should I worry about diverticulosis?

Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that does not go away. Nausea, vomiting, or chills. Sudden belly or back pain that gets worse or is very severe.

What is the most common long term treatment of diverticulosis?

Diverticulitis is treated using diet modifications, antibiotics, and possibly surgery. Mild diverticulitis infection may be treated with bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the infection, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.

How often does diverticulosis turn into diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis happens in approximately 4% of patients with diverticulosis [22]. Because the sigmoid colon is most frequently affected, diverticulitis usually presents as left lower-quadrant abdominal constant pain.


Should you take probiotics if you have diverticulosis?

Low-grade inflammation and altered intestinal microbiota have been identified as factors contributing to abdominal symptoms. Probiotics may lead to symptoms improvement by modifying the gut microbiota and are promising treatments for diverticular disease.

Is diverticulosis a constant pain?

Symptoms of diverticulitis

However, the pain associated with diverticulitis is constant and severe, rather than intermittent. It is most likely to occur if you have previously had symptoms of diverticular disease, and develops over a day or two.

Can diverticulosis affect the heart?

Diverticular disease is known to be associated with segmental colitis. Chronic inflammation could result in intestinal microbiota transformation and cause systemic inflammation, followed by arterial atherosclerosis and then cardiovascular disease.


What medications affect diverticulosis?

CONCLUSIONS. Regular use of aspirin or NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk for diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding.

Why does diverticulosis flare-up?

As you get older, your colon wall can become weaker. This can cause small pockets or pouches to form in weakened areas of your colon. If these pouches get infected, it can cause a diverticulitis attack or flare-up.

How can I fix diverticulosis naturally?

This article looks at eight potential home remedies for diverticulitis, as well as some complications of the condition and when to see a doctor.
  1. Try a liquid diet. ...
  2. Adopt a low fiber diet. ...
  3. Increase fiber intake. ...
  4. Get more vitamin D. ...
  5. Apply a heat pad. ...
  6. Try probiotics. ...
  7. Get more exercise. ...
  8. Try herbal remedies.


Can you recover from diverticulosis?

Your doctor can usually treat diverticulitis with a special diet, plenty of rest, and, in some cases, antibiotic medica- tions. Once treated, most people start feeling better within a few days. Approximately 20% of patients will have another flare-up, or recurrence. This usually happens within 5 years.

Can diverticulosis be removed?

If you've had two or three episodes of diverticulitis, your doctor may recommend an elective procedure called sigmoidectomy, in which the affected part of the colon—called the sigmoid colon—is removed to help prevent a recurrence. Before choosing elective surgery, you and your doctor discuss the benefits and risks.