Diverticulosis, (which, when symptomatic, is known as "diverticular disease") is the condition of having diverticula in the colon, which are outpocketings of the colonic mucosa and submucosa through weaknesses of muscle layers in the colon wall. These are more common in the sigmoid colon, which is a common place for increased pressure. This is uncommon before the age of 40, and increases in incidence after that age.
Most people with colonic diverticulosis are unaware of this structural change. When symptoms do appear in a person over 40 years of age it is important to obtain medical advice and exclude more dangerous conditions such as cancer of the colon or rectum.
This is the commonest complication of colonic diverticulosis. This is when the motility (that is, the onward propulsive nature of contractions) of the bowel becomes disorganised. Sometimes, spasm can develop. This results in pain in the left lower abdomen and often is accompanied by the passage of small pelletty stools and slime which relieves the pain. Symptoms can consist of (1) bloating, (2) changes in bowel movements (diarrhoea or constipation), (3) Non-specific chronic discomfort in the lower left abdomen, with occasional acute episodes of sharper pain, (4) abdominal pain, often after meals often in the left lower abdomen. If these persist clinical investigation is advised.
This is very uncommon but highly dangerous. The diverticulae may bleed, either rapidly (causing bleeding through the rectum) or slowly (causing anaemia). The diverticulae can become infected and develop abscesses, or even perforate. These are serious complications and medical care is needed. Infected diverticulae and development of abscesses merits the term diverticulitis. First time bleeding from the rectum, especially in individuals aged over age 40, could be due to colon cancer, colonic polyps and inflammatory bowel disease rather than diverticulosis and requires clinical investigation.
Risk factors
increasing age
constipation
a diet that is low in dietary fiber content or high in fat
high intake of meat and red meat connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan syndrome) that may cause weakness in the colon wall.
Infection of a diverticulum can result in diverticulitis. This occurs in 10-25% of persons with diverticulosis (NIDDK website). Tears in the colon leading to bleeding or perforations may occur; intestinal obstruction may occur (constipation or diarrhea does not rule this possibility out); and peritonitis, abscess formation, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sepsis, and fistula formation are also possible occurrences. Rarely, an enterolith may form.
Infection of a diverticulum often occurs as a result of stool collecting in a diverticulum.
More than 10% of the US population over the age of 40 and half over the age of 60 has diverticulosis. This disease is common in the US, Britain, Australia, Canada, and is uncommon in Asia and Africa.
Diverticulosis, (which, when symptomatic, is known as "diverticular disease") is the condition of having diverticula in the colon, which are outpocketings of the colonic mucosa and submucosa through weaknesses of muscle layers in the colon wall. These are more common in the sigmoid colon, which is a common place for increased pressure. This is uncommon before the age of 40, and increases in incidence after that age.
Most people with colonic diverticulosis are unaware of this structural change. When symptoms do appear in a person over 40 years of age it is important to obtain medical advice and exclude more dangerous conditions such as cancer of the colon or rectum.
This is the commonest complication of colonic diverticulosis. This is when the motility (that is, the onward propulsive nature of contractions) of the bowel becomes disorganised. Sometimes, spasm can develop. This results in pain in the left lower abdomen and often is accompanied by the passage of small pelletty stools and slime which relieves the pain. Symptoms can consist of (1) bloating, (2) changes in bowel movements (diarrhoea or constipation), (3) Non-specific chronic discomfort in the lower left abdomen, with occasional acute episodes of sharper pain, (4) abdominal pain, often after meals often in the left lower abdomen. If these persist clinical investigation is advised.
This is very uncommon but highly dangerous. The diverticulae may bleed, either rapidly (causing bleeding through the rectum) or slowly (causing anaemia). The diverticulae can become infected and develop abscesses, or even perforate. These are serious complications and medical care is needed. Infected diverticulae and development of abscesses merits the term diverticulitis. First time bleeding from the rectum, especially in individuals aged over age 40, could be due to colon cancer, colonic polyps and inflammatory bowel disease rather than diverticulosis and requires clinical investigation.
Risk factors
increasing age
constipation
a diet that is low in dietary fiber content or high in fat
high intake of meat and red meat
connective tissue disorders (such as Marfan syndrome) that may cause weakness in the colon wall.
Infection of a diverticulum can result in diverticulitis. This occurs in 10-25% of persons with diverticulosis (NIDDK website). Tears in the colon leading to bleeding or perforations may occur; intestinal obstruction may occur (constipation or diarrhea does not rule this possibility out); and peritonitis, abscess formation, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sepsis, and fistula formation are also possible occurrences. Rarely, an enterolith may form.
Infection of a diverticulum often occurs as a result of stool collecting in a diverticulum.
More than 10% of the US population over the age of 40 and half over the age of 60 has diverticulosis. This disease is common in the US, Britain, Australia, Canada, and is uncommon in Asia and Africa.
Large-mouth diverticula are associated with scleroderma.