What is diverticular disease and how does it develop. If this becomes diverticulitis, is it serious and is surgery the only remedy?
A. Diverticulae are pockets that develop in the colon wall, usually in the sigmoid or left colon, but may involve the entire colon. Diverticulosis describes the presence of these pockets. Diverticulitis describes inflammation or complications of these pockets. Indications are that a low-fibre diet over the years creates increased colon pressure and results in pockets or diverticulae. The symptoms of diverticular disease are abdominal pain (usually in the lower left abdomen), diarrhoea, cramps, alteration of bowel habit and occasionally, severe rectal bleeding. These symptoms occur in a small percentage of patients with the condition and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Diverticulitis – an infection of the diverticulae – may cause one or more of the following symptoms: pain, chills, fever and change in bowel habits. More intense symptoms are associated with serious complications such as perforation, abscess or fistula formation.
