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Diverticulitis |
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Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis occurs in people with diverticulosis. It most commonly affects the sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the large intestine just before the rectum. Diverticulitis is more common in people older than 40. It can be severe in people of any age, although it is most serious in the elderly, especially those taking corticosteroids or other drugs that suppress the immune system and thus increase the hazards of infection. One or more pouches in the colon may become inflamed or infected, causing severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits. When diverticula become infected, the condition is called diverticulitis. Signs and symptoms Diverticulitis can feel like appendicitis, except you'll generally have pain in the lower-left side of your abdomen, instead of the lower-right side. The pain is usually severe and comes on suddenly, but sometimes you may have mild pain that becomes worse over several days and fluctuates in intensity. You may also have abdominal tenderness, fever, nausea, and constipation or diarrhea. Less common signs and symptoms of diverticulitis may include: Causes Diverticula usually develop when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. This causes marble-sized pouches to protrude through the colon wall. Pouches are most common in your sigmoid and descending colon — the lower portions of your large intestine just above your rectum — and often occur as a result of straining during bowel movements over a number of years. The pouches are small at first but become larger with time. Sometimes a bit of stool may become lodged in one of the pouches, leading to infection. A small tear or perforation can also develop in an infected pouch, which in turn can cause an infection within your abdomen (peritonitis). If the infection is limited to an area around the wall of your colon where the diverticula are inflamed, you may develop a localized collection of pus known as an abscess. Risk factors These factors may increase the pressure on the wall of your colon:
Diverticulitis > next > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
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