Diverticulitis Symptoms

Diverticulitis: Introduction

Following minor defects in wall muscles of your large intestine or colon, small sacs or pouches called diverticula begin to form. This is known as diverticulosis.

An affected person has small sacs or pouches on the lining of the colon (large intestine) that protrude outward generally from weak spots. Such a pouch is known as a diverticulum. Diverticula (plural of diverticulum) are a collection of several such pouches.

Diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection that occurs in these small sacs. In other words, it occurs after diverticulosis. A combination of these conditions is called diverticular disease. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula experience inflammation and causes an illness.

What are the Diverticulitis Symptoms?

The most common symptom and signs of diverticulitis is pain that usually starts just below the belly button and is severe and constant. The pain may relocate slowly to the lower left part of the abdomen.

The pain is often severe, and can come on all of a sudden. But it can also start as mild pain that can evolve and worsen over the course of days. The pain may vary in its intensity and may fluctuate.

An affected person may experience a range of diverticulitis symptoms sometimes accompanied by chills, or altered bowel habits. Tenderness occurring to the lower left side of your abdomen during a physical examination is a strong indicator of diverticulitis.

Some of the diverticulitis signs and symptoms:

• Fever above 100.4 Fahrenheit
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• An urge to urinate frequently
• Painful urination
• Abdominal cramping

Complications can lead to severity in symptoms of diverticulitis. A person with diverticulitis complications may experience any one or a combination of health complaints including:

• Bleeding from the rectum
• Increase in infections
• Small punctures
• Obstructions in the colon

Such complications almost always require some form of treatment. This is important to prevent the progression of the disease which can cause serious health issues.