Diverticulitis Symptoms

By Author: Rob Thomas
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article

Diverticulitis is a condition that happens when a Diverticulum tears and causes an infection in the cells about the colon. This definition perhaps doesn't make any sense unless you are a medical student or have been investigating diverticulitis; to know it a bit of background information is necessary so here goes.
A Diverticulum is a small pod in the walls of the colon that gets pressed out as a person ages and the walls of the colon become thicker, leading to an increase in the pressure in the colon; a solitary sac is called a diverticulum while several sacs are called diverticula.
Diverticula can arise in any section of the colon but is particularly common in the sigmoid colon, (the section right before the anus) as pressure buildup usually happens there. When diverticula exist in one's colon, the individual is said to have diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis often has just a little or no symptoms but if there are symptoms they may include hemorrhaging, stomach pain and constipation. Other symptoms can include bouts of sharp pain or a sensation of pressure in the abdomen when air goes in and out of the diverticula; ...
... now we get to your definition once again, Diverticulitis is a condition that happens when a Diverticulum tears and causes an infection in the tissues about the colon.
An individual who experiences Diverticulitis normally has pain in the lower left abdomen, fever and has an elevated white cell count if a blood examination is performed; diverticulitis may also cause sickness, diarrhea, pelvic blisters, cramping, and hemorrhaging.
An inflamed Diverticulum can result in a peritonitis contamination that infects the lining of the abdominal space, if the Diverticulum tears; the severity of the symptomss associated with diverticulitis will be dependent on how terrible the infection is and the area that is affected. Diverticulum may in addition get into the bladder and result in an infection that leads to the passing of air while urinating.
Besides the thickening of the colonic walls, another thing that may lead to the progression of Diverticulitis is a diet that is low in fiber; having insufficient fiber in the diet may lead to hard stools that are not easy to pass, and so increase the pressure inside the colon; eventually this might result in Diverticula.
The initial time Diverticulitis happens, unless it is serious it is typically remedied with antibiotics, bowel rest - meaning nothing is taken orally, and IV fluid resuscitation; a high-fiber diet will usually be suggested to divert the development of more diverticula. If the affected individual is experiencing pains, anti-spasmodic drugs can be suggested.
If there are repeated assaults or intense problems, medical operation to extract the infected piece of the colon can be the only fix; if an operation is done the individual will normally be first prescribed a low-fiber menu to reduce the amount of items that pass through the colon while the colon repairs properly. Once totally healed, persons are placed on a high-fiber menu to keep them regular and to prevent additional diverticulitis.
About Author:
Please visit this link for more information on: Diverticulitis Symptoms and this link for an interesting article on Colonoscopy Procedure.