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Small pouches that bulge outward through weak spots in the colon, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticula.
The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About half of all Americans age 60 to 80, and almost everyone over age 80, has diverticulosis. Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become infected or inflamed.
Diverticulosis becomes more common as people age, particularly in people older than age 50. Some people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis, and the number of cases is increasing. Although diverticular disease is generally thought to be a condition found in older adults, it is becoming more common in people younger than age 50, most of whom are male.
People with diverticulitis may have many symptoms, the most common of which is pain in the lower left side of the abdomen. The pain is usually severe and comes on suddenly, though it can also be mild and then worsen over several days. The intensity of the pain can fluctuate.
Diverticulitis may also cause:
Diverticular bleeding may also cause:
A health care provider may treat the symptoms of diverticulosis with a high-fiber diet or fiber supplements, medications, and possibly probiotics. Treatment for diverticular disease varies, depending on whether a person has diverticulitis or diverticular bleeding.
