Diverticular Disease: Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of diverticular disease/diverticulitis.

Family history

  • Are there any diseases in your family that are common?

Social anamnesis

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • How long have you had pain?
  • Do you have abdominal pain?
    • How does the pain occur?
      • Permanent?*
      • Colicky?*
    • Where is the pain located?
      • Upper abdomen?
        • Right?
        • Center?
        • Left?
      • Middle belly?
        • Right?
        • Center?
        • Left?
      • Lower abdomen?
        • Right?
        • Center?
        • Left?
    • Is your abdomen tight and you feel pain when you move?* .
  • Do you suffer from diarrhea or constipation?
  • Do you have blood in your stool?*
  • Do you have a fever?*
  • Do you have vomiting?*

Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.

  • Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
  • Has your body weight changed recently?
  • Do you suffer from loss of appetite?
  • Do you eat a diet low in fat and high in fiber?
  • Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
  • Do you get enough exercise every day? Do you do any sports?

Self history incl. medication history

  • Previous diseases (gastrointestinal diseases; diverticulitis: previous episodes of pain?, previous episodes of diverticulitis?).
  • Investigations (colonoscopy/colonoscopy?, if so, when?).
  • Operations
  • Allergies

Medications

  • Calcium antagonists – a phenome-wide association study indicates that individuals with the variants in the genes that affect the action of calcium antagonists are more likely than others to develop diverticulosis. However, the probability of disease is very low, and was just 1.02 (95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.04), indicating a 2% increase.
  • Glucocorticoids* *
  • Immunosuppressants* *
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)* * : Acetylsalicylic acid
  • Opioids* *

* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Data subject to change)* * Medicines that have a negative impact on the course of diverticular disease.