Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
Diverticular disease occurs when small pocket-like growths (or diverticula), form in the large intestine lining and push through the bowel wall. This leads to abdominal pain (particularly the lower left side) which is worse after eating but eases later. You may also experience a change in bowel movements, such as constipation, diarrhoea, and blood in your poo, which may look black.
If you have inflamed or infected diverticula, it’s known as diverticulitis, which has more serious complications. They include a constant and severe pain in the abdomen, a temperature of 38C or higher, mucus or blood in your poo, or bleeding from the rectum (bottom).
Causes and risk factors
The chances of developing diverticula (and diverticulosis) increase as you get older, due to the bowel walls becoming weaker. It’s believed to affect about 10% of people over 45, rising to 80% of 85-year-olds. About 20% of people with diverticulosis go on to develop diverticular disease.
The main cause of diverticular disease and diverticulitis is not eating enough fibre. Smoking, being overweight or obese, excessive alcohol consumption, eating lots of red meat, and using ibuprofen or aspirin regularly are also said to increase your risk of developing the condition.
Diagnosis
Diverticula may be small in size or so few in number that you won’t know you have them – and you don’t experience symptoms – this is called diverticulosis. They’ll often only be detected through having a scan for a different condition.
A doctor will carry out a physical examination and a blood test to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms to diverticular disease, such as bowel cancer, coeliac disease or irritable bowel syndrome.
Diverticular disease can be diagnosed with a CT scan or colonoscopy (a procedure using a thin tube fitted with a tiny camera, which is inserted into the rectum and guided into the bowel.
Treatment
Treatment for diverticular disease normally involves increasing the fibre in your diet through foods like fruits and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, potatoes, nuts and beans. Paracetamol is recommended for pain relief.
With diverticulitis, a fluid-only diet for a few days may be suggested by the doctor, followed by a low-fibre diet so your digestive system can rest and, once recovered, eating a high-fibre diet. In more serious cases, antibiotics, an intravenous drip for dehydration and even surgery may be necessary.
Book a private consultation
Left-sided pain in your lower abdomen can be a sign of diverticular disease and diverticulitis. Our specialists can run a series of diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your pain and form a tailored treatment plan.
Get in touch with one of our trusted specialists today.
Tests
Treatments / Symptom Management
High fibre diet
Surgery for complications (bleeding, perforation)