What Causes Diverticulitis? Diverticulitis Symptoms and Treatment

Diverticulum are sac-shaped structures formed as a result of herniation in the form of bubbles in the large intestine. Diverticulosis or diverticulum disease is the name given to the presence of one or more diverticula. Inflammation and infection of these small sacs is called diverticulitis. Diverticular disease is common and often causes no symptoms and does not require treatment. A high-fiber diet, exercise, and drinking plenty of water can help prevent the development of diverticulum. Mild cases of diverticulitis are treated with antibiotics. If it becomes severe or if additional problems develop, surgery is required in the treatment.

What is a diverticulum?

The answer to the questions of what a diverticulum means or what does a diverticula in the intestine mean are often wondered. Diverticulum are small, bubble-shaped structures characterized by herniation in the lining of the inner surface of the digestive tract. The most common area is the large intestine or the lower part of the colon as it is called in the medical literature. Diverticula usually do not cause any problems or symptoms and are more common after the age of 40. The condition characterized by the development of inflammation or infection in the diverticular structures, which have an appearance that can be called bubbles in the intestine, is called diverticulitis, and the condition with the presence of diverticulum in the body is called diverticular disease or diverticulosis. Diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and marked change in bowel habits. Mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, dietary changes, and antibiotics. Severe or recurrent cases of diverticulitis may require surgery.

What Causes Diverticulitis?

Diverticulum usually develops as a result of the compression of naturally weak places in the large intestine. This pressure applied to the intestine causes various sized sacs to herniate out of the colon wall. Diverticulitis, on the other hand, occurs when the diverticulum wall ruptures and inflammation and sometimes infection develops in that part of the intestine. Scientists do not know what the exact cause for diverticulosis is. However, low fiber diet and consequent constipation are mostly blamed as causes of diverticulum formation and therefore diverticulitis. Enough fiber food Not eating stool builds up in the large intestine, causing waste buildup and constipation. Constipation, on the other hand, puts extra strain on the colon walls and creates pressure. This increased pressure results in the formation of small pockets in weak areas of the colon. Various factors may increase the risk of developing diverticulitis in a person:

• Age: The incidence increases after the age of 40.
• Obesity: Especially morbid obesity increases the risk.
• Smoking: Smokers, non-smokers
• No Exercise: Regular exercise every day reduces the risk of diverticulitis.
• High Animal Fat, Low Fiber Diet: Risk when two factors are combined increases. However, the effect of low fiber ratio alone on the risk of diverticulum is not certain.
• Some Drugs: Regular intake of certain drugs, such as steroids and opioids, increases the risk.

What are the Symptoms of Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis, which is characterized by inflammation or infection in one or more of the diverticulum, manifests itself with various symptoms. Intestinal diverticulum symptoms include:

• Abdominal Pain: Diverticulitis pain manifests itself as abdominal pain that can last for several days without interruption. This pain occurs more in the lower left side of the abdomen. Sometimes, however, people of Asian descent have more pain on the right side of the abdomen.
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Abdominal tenderness and bloating
• Constipation or less commonly diarrhea
• Blood from the rectum

When you have persistent, unexplained abdominal pain

Does Diverticulum Develop into Cancer?

Although some lifestyle factors can increase the risk of both diverticula and cancer No causal relationship between diverticulum or diverticulitis and cancers of the colon or rectum has been established so far. For example, a diet high in fat and low in fiber increases the risk of both diverticulitis and colon cancer.

What Diverticulum Patients Shouldn't Eat?

Until recently, nuts, plant seeds and corn While rice is thought to cause episodes of diverticulitis, more recent research shows that these foods do not cause flare-ups. Since different foods can trigger the disease in each individual, the person can avoid foods that worsen the disease by monitoring which foods cause symptoms.

Diverticulum Diet

Diet is important to have regular bowel movements, avoid constipation and straining, prevent diverticular disease and reduce its complications. For this purpose, it is useful to eat as follows:

• Consuming Foods Containing More Fiber: Fiber attracts more water to the stool, making it more bulky and soft. Thus, it moves faster in the intestines and is excreted more easily.
• Drinking Plenty of Water: Consuming more fiber foods causes more water absorption. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the amount of water consumed along with fibrous foods to keep the stool soft and moving.
• Exercise Regularly: Regular physical activity helps food pass through the intestinal tract. If possible, exercising regularly for 30 minutes each day can significantly prevent constipation.

How to Diagnose Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed during an acute attack. Since abdominal pain is a symptom of many other diseases, the doctor must rule out other causes. For this, the diagnosis begins with a physical examination, which includes the control of tenderness in the abdomen. A pelvic examination is also often necessary to rule out pelvic disease in women. After the examination, she may order the following tests:

• Blood and urine tests to check for the presence of infection
• Pregnancy test for women of childbearing age to rule out pregnancy as a cause of abdominal pain
• Liver function tests to rule out liver-related causes of abdominal pain
• Stool test to rule out infection in people with diarrhea
• A CT scan that can confirm the diagnosis of diverticulitis by viewing inflamed or infected sacs. CT can also show the severity of diverticulitis and guide treatment.

How is Diverticulitis Treated?

Treatment of intestinal diverticulitis can help determine the severity of symptoms in the person. depending on the meat. If symptoms are mild, home treatment may be sufficient. In this case, the doctor may make the following recommendations for treatment:

• Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infection. However, new guidelines state that in very mild cases antibiotics may not be needed.
• Eating a liquid diet for a few days is recommended for easier bowel recovery. When symptoms improve, solid foods are gradually added to the diet.

If the patient has an episode of severe symptoms or other health problems, they are usually hospitalized and treated. In this case, treatment includes:

• Intravenous antibiotic therapy
• If an abscess has formed in the abdomen, placing a drainage tube in the area to drain it

possibly diverticulitis surgery is required:

• If there is a complication such as abscess, fistula, obstruction, perforation in the intestinal wall
• In case of multiple episodes of diverticulitis
• The person has a weak immune system case

How is the Treatment of Diverticulitis and Diverticulitis with Surgery?

There are two main types of surgery that can be performed in patients with diverticulum disease:

Primary Bowel Resection: In this surgical method the diseased sections of the intestine are removed and rejoin the healthy sections. This procedure allows bowel movements to return to normal. Depending on the amount of inflammation, open or endoscopic surgery may be preferred.

Intestinal Resection with Colostomy: If the large intestine and rectum contain so much inflammation that it is not possible to reunite healthy parts of the intestine, the surgeon first opens a colostomy. The rectum is the name given to the part of the intestine between the large intestine and the anus. The colostomy is placed by creating an opening in the abdominal wall and connecting it to the healthy part of the large intestine. The stool of the person passes through the opening into a bag and accumulates in the bag. When the inflammation in the intestine is relieved, the colostomy is removed and the intestine can be reconnected. It is recommended that the patient get up and walk around. It is normal to have pain in the procedure area for a few days after the surgery. Most patients can return to their normal activities within 1-2 weeks after surgery.

It is important to have your check-ups at regular intervals for early diagnosis and treatment of all kinds of health problems.

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