Diverticulitis is a digestive condition in which a diverticula in the large intestine becomes inflamed, causing digestive symptoms. In some cases, complications may require urgent medical care.

In diverticulosis, small pockets, known as diverticula, develop in the lining of the large intestine (colon) and push through weak spots.

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula become infected or inflamed. This may cause uncomfortable symptoms and, in some cases, serious complications.

Nearly 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized each year for diverticulitis.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis may cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. They can appear suddenly or develop gradually over several days.

Symptoms of diverticulitis may include:

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. It will most likely occur in the lower left side of your abdomen. It can also develop in the right side of your abdomen.

If you develop any of the above symptoms, get immediate medical attention. They may be a sign of a serious complication.

Diverticulitis develops when diverticula form on the wall of your colon and become inflamed or infected.

The exact cause of why this happens is unknown, but research suggests it may be related to changes in the gut microbiome or due to chronic inflammation.

Several risk factors for diverticulitis have been identified.

For instance, diverticulosis affects nearly 6 in 10 people older than 60 years old, and up to 25% of these people will develop diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis commonly occurs in males under 50 years old and females ages 50 to 70 years.

If you develop diverticula at a younger age, you may be more likely to experience diverticulitis. Younger people are also more likely to be admitted to a hospital if they have diverticulitis than older people.

Other risk factors of diverticulitis may include:

According to a 2017 review, no strong evidence suggests drinking alcohol raises your risk of diverticulitis. However, it’s important to drink in moderation, as alcohol consumption may raise your risk of other health problems.

It’s estimated that 1 in 4 people with diverticulitis will develop complications. These may include:

Up to 1 in 2 people may also experience recurring diverticulitis flare-ups.

A doctor will first perform a physical exam to check your abdomen for tenderness. They’ll also ask about your symptoms, health history, and any medications you take.

If they need more information, they may perform a digital rectal exam to check for:

  • rectal bleeding
  • pain
  • masses
  • other problems

They may also order other tests to check for signs of diverticulitis and rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. These tests include:

If you have diverticulitis, these exams and tests can help your doctor learn if it’s uncomplicated or complicated.

Treatment for diverticulitis will depend on the severity of your condition.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of dietary changes, medications, and in rare cases, surgery.

Dietary changes

There are no particular foods that people with diverticulitis need to avoid. However, you might find that certain foods make your condition better or worse.

A doctor may recommend following a clear liquid diet if you’re experiencing a diverticulitis flare-up.

A doctor may also recommend limiting your consumption of red meat, high fat dairy products, and refined grain products.

As your symptoms improve, they might encourage you to eat more high fiber foods.

Some studies have linked high fiber diets to reduced risk of diverticulitis. Other studies have examined the possible benefits of dietary or supplemental fiber for diverticular disease but are still unsure of the role fiber should play.

Learn more about diet and diverticulitis.

Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help reduce pain or discomfort from diverticulitis.

It’s important not to take NSAIDs to help manage pain, as these may worsen diverticulitis.

Severe diverticulitis may be caused by an infection. A doctor may prescribe the following antibiotics to treat it:

That said, mild diverticulitis is usually not treated with antibiotics.

Remember to take the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms improve after the first few doses.

Surgery

You may require surgery if you develop a complication from diverticulitis or you experience multiple episodes that can’t be managed with other treatments.

There are two main types of surgery used to treat diverticulitis:

  • Bowel resection with anastomosis: During this procedure, a surgeon removes infected segments of your colon and reattaches the healthy segments to each other.
  • Bowel resection with colostomy: During this surgery, a surgeon removes infected sections of your colon and attaches the end of the healthy section to an opening in your abdomen, known as a stoma.

Both procedures can be performed as open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.

Learn more about surgery for diverticulitis.

Home remedies for diverticulitis

Along with dietary changes, the following home remedies may help improve diverticulitis symptoms. However, it’s important to note that more research is needed to support each of these remedies:

  • Probiotics: Some studies have found that certain strains of probiotics might help relieve or prevent symptoms of diverticulitis.
  • Extracts: Certain herbal extracts, including Curcuma longa L. and Boswellia serrata, may help reduce abdominal pain associated with diverticulitis.
  • Acupuncture: Some research suggests acupuncture may help relieve chronic abdominal pain associated with diverticulitis.

Diverticulosis usually affects adults. In rare cases, babies are born with diverticula. When this happens, it’s known as Meckel’s diverticulum.

If the diverticula become inflamed, it’s called Meckel’s diverticulitis.

In some cases, Meckel’s diverticulum doesn’t cause noticeable effects. In other cases, it can cause symptoms like:

  • abdominal pain
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • bloody stool
  • bleeding from the rectum

If you suspect your child may have diverticulitis, make an appointment with a doctor.

Some lifestyle and dietary changes may help prevent diverticulitis, including:

Diverticula usually develop in the large intestine, but they can also develop in other parts of your body.

  • Bladder diverticulitis: This is when diverticula in the bladder lining poke through weak spots in your bladder’s wall and get inflamed. Diverticulitis in your colon may affect your bladder, too. In severe cases, you might develop a fistula between your colon and bladder, known as a colovesical fistula.
  • Esophageal diverticulitis: This occurs when the diverticula in your esophageal lining get infected. Esophageal diverticula are rare. If they develop, they do so very slowly and over many years.

What’s the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

Diverticulosis is when diverticula develop in the lining of your colon but don’t cause any symptoms. Diverticulitis is when diverticula get infected or inflamed, leading to symptoms.

What is the main cause of diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula in the large intestine become infected. The exact cause of why this happens is unknown. However, some factors associated with diverticulitis include smoking, having obesity, and eating a diet low in fiber or high in fat and red meat.

What does a diverticulitis attack feel like?

The most common symptom of diverticulitis is acute pain in the lower left quadrant of your abdomen.

What is the life expectancy of diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis doesn’t usually affect life expectancy. However, a healthcare professional could provide a better outlook for your condition.

Diverticulitis is relatively common in the Western world.

In most cases, it can be treated through short-term dietary changes and medication.

However, if you develop complications, you may require hospital treatment like surgery to repair damage to your colon.

If you have diverticulitis and experience symptoms, speak with a doctor. They can help modify or develop a treatment plan for you.