🔅 DIVERTICULITIS

– Diverticulitis is a condition that affects the large intestine (colon), causing inflammation or infection of the pouches (diverticula) that form in the colon wall. It can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and bleeding.

CAUSESATIVE AGENTS

_ The exact cause of diverticulitis is not known, but it may be related to a low-fiber diet, increased pressure in the colon, aging, obesity, smoking, certain medications, and genetic factors.

SYMPTOMS

– The most common symptom of diverticulitis is sudden pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, which may be constant or worsen with movement, eating, or bowel movements. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and blood or mucus in the stool.

DIAGNOSIS

– Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed during an acute attack, based on the symptoms, physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, pregnancy tests (for women of childbearing age), and imaging tests such as CT scan or colonoscopy.

PROGNOSIS

– Most people with diverticulitis recover well with proper treatment and lifestyle changes. However, some people may have recurrent episodes, complications, or chronic symptoms that affect their quality of life.

TREATMENT

– The treatment of diverticulitis depends on the severity of the condition, the presence of complications, and the response to initial therapy. Mild cases can be treated with rest, oral antibiotics, painkillers, and liquid or low-fiber diet. Severe or complicated cases may require hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, surgery, or drainage of abscesses.

PREVENTION

– Diverticulitis can be prevented by eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding certain medications that may increase the risk of diverticulitis, such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) or opioids (codeine).

COMPLICATIONS

– Diverticulitis can cause serious complications if left untreated or if it becomes severe or recurrent. Some of the possible complications are abscess, bleeding, fistula, blockage in the colon, perforation of the colon, and peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity).

DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

– For a patient suffering an acute attack of diverticulitis, it is recommended to follow a liquid or low-fiber diet to allow the colon to heal and reduce the inflammation. After the symptoms improve, a high-fiber diet can be resumed gradually to prevent constipation and recurrence of diverticulitis. Foods that are high in fiber include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. Foods that are low in fiber include refined grains, meat, dairy, eggs, and processed foods.

– Some foods that you may want to avoid with diverticulitis are:

• High FODMAP foods, such as certain fruits, dairy, fermented foods, beans, cabbage, onions, and garlic.

• Red and processed meat, which may increase the risk of diverticulitis.

• High-fiber foods, such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, popcorn, beans, and fruits and vegetables with the skin and seeds, especially during a flare-up.

However, the effect of these foods on diverticulitis may vary from person to person, and some experts do not recommend any dietary restrictions for diverticulitis. You may want to consult your doctor or a dietitian for individualized advice.

DIVERTICULOSIS vs DIVERTICULITIS

– The difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis is that diverticulosis is the condition of having small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the intestines, while diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of those pouches.

Diverticulosis usually does not cause symptoms or require treatment, but diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and changes in bowel habits.

Diverticulitis may also lead to complications such as bleeding, abscess, fistula, blockage, or perforation of the colon.

Diverticulosis is more common as people age, and it may be related to a low-fiber diet, increased pressure in the colon, or genetic factors.

Diverticulitis can be prevented by eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of water, exercising regularly, and avoiding certain medications that may increase the risk of diverticulitis.

COMPLICATIONS OF DIVERTICULOSIS

i) Bleeding: Diverticula can rupture and cause bleeding from the colon. This can be mild or severe, and may require blood transfusion or surgery.

ii) Perforation: A diverticulum can develop a hole or tear, allowing the contents of the colon to leak into the abdominal cavity. This can cause a serious infection called peritonitis, which requires emergency surgery.

iii). Abscess: An infected diverticulum can form a collection of pus in the colon or outside the colon wall. This can cause pain, fever, and tenderness in the abdomen. An abscess may need to be drained with a needle or surgery.

iv) Obstruction: The inflammation or scarring from diverticulitis can narrow the colon and cause a blockage. This can prevent the passage of stool and gas, leading to abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. A severe obstruction may need surgery to remove the affected part of the colon.

v) Fistula: A diverticulum can create an abnormal connection between the colon and another organ, such as the bladder, uterus, vagina, or skin. This can cause symptoms such as urinary tract infections, air or stool in the urine, or discharge from the vagina or skin. A fistula usually requires surgery to close it.

– These complications are rare, but they can be serious and life-threatening. If you have diverticulosis, you should see your doctor regularly and follow their advice on how to prevent diverticulitis and its complications.

💫 LIGHTS ON!!

• To prevent complications of diverticulitis, such as bleeding, infection, or obstruction, you should follow your doctor's advice on how to treat and manage your condition. Some general tips include: eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of fluids, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding certain medications that may increase the risk of diverticulitis, such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) or opioids (codeine).

– You can have a colonoscopy with diverticulosis, but not with diverticulitis. A colonoscopy is a test that examines the inside of your colon with a camera. It can help diagnose diverticular disease, colon cancer, and other conditions. However, if you have diverticulitis, which means your diverticula are inflamed or infected, a colonoscopy could cause complications such as perforation or peritonitis. Therefore, you should wait until your diverticulitis is resolved before having a colonoscopy.

– The risk factors for diverticulosis, which means having diverticula in your colon, include aging, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, diet high in animal fat and low in fiber, certain medications, and genetic factors.

– Diverticulosis is more common in people over 40 years old and in Western countries, where the diet is more processed and less fiber-rich than in other parts of the world.

Can diverticulitis cause cancer?

– According to various results there is no direct causal link between diverticulitis and cancer, but some factors may increase the risk of both conditions, such as low-fiber diet, obesity, smoking, and aging. However, some studies have suggested that patients with complicated diverticulitis, which means having inflammation with complications such as abscess, fistula, or perforation, may have a higher risk of colorectal cancer than those with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with diverticulitis undergo colonoscopy after their symptoms resolve to rule out any underlying malignancies.