Symptoms Of Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a disease that involves infection and inflammation of diverticula formed in the colon.
Diverticulitis Symptoms That May Occur Are Variable And Include:
- Mild to severe abdominal pain
- Cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Fever
- Tenderness in the lower left quadrant.
Tenderness happens because in most of the patients who suffer from diverticulitis, sigmoid colon is affected. Sigmoid colon is located in the lower left abdomen; it is the part of the colon with more intraluminal pressure and with the weakest bowel wall.
Difference Between Diverticulosis And Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis differs from diverticulitis because the diverticula are not inflamed or infected. Usually the patient has no symptoms. In some cases there may be cramping, bloating, gas or constipation. Because these symptoms can occur in other intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is necessary to consult the doctor who will make a proper diagnosis. If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, or you suspect to have diverticulosis, you should not to take medication on your own. It is best to consult your doctor, who will perform the appropriate treatment and accurate diagnosis.
A small percentage of patients with diverticulitis progress to complications and, in some cases, hospitalization and surgery are needed. Complications are due to the rupture of the infected diverticula and the shedding of its contents inside the intestine. This may lead to the formation of abscesses, which are local infections with pus. Abscesses have to be drained or treated with antibiotics.
Complications Of Diverticulitis
Another complication that can arise is peritonitis. Peritonitis is the infection of the peritoneum followed by inflammation. It requires emergency surgery.
Other complications of diverticulitis include:
- Perforations: They are holes in the intestine produced as a result of rupture of diverticula.
- Blockage: when this happens, surgery may be necessary because the intestinal contents can be retained.
- Fistulas: Fistulas are another complication of diverticulitis. They are abnormal connections between two organs. The most common fistulas in patients with diverticulitis are those that connect the colon to the bladder.
Fistulas lead to drain the intestinal contents into the bladder with the possibility of infection. They should be treated with surgery.
Despite the complications that can occur in diverticulitis, this disease does not increase the risk of developing colon cancer. However, some symptoms that occur are usually the same as in cancerous processes. For this reason, you should always consult a doctor.
A rare symptom of diverticulitis is rectal bleeding. Blood loss is observed in the toilet. This bleeding is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the diverticulum. If you have symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, cramps, constipation, and loss of blood in the stool, you should seek medical assistance because there are other gastrointestinal diseases, in addition to diverticulitis, which manifest themselves in the same way. The doctor will perform the diagnosis and give treatment accordingly.
Long Distance Telephone Appointments
If you are not local to the clinic, Michelle Honda PhD Holistic Doctor can conduct telephone appointments with you very easily. So if you are anywhere in North America, you can now successfully receive high end, specialized help for your Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. If you are local to the clinic in Hamilton, Toronto or Mississauga Ontario – by all means come in for your appointment. If not, telephone appointments are very popular and convenient.
