Frequency (Epidemiology)

Diverticulosis is a disease caused by a low-fiber diet. The older people become, the higher the probability of developing such bulges. Initially the diverticula are asymptomatic.

Over time, however, symptomatic diverticulitis usually develops when the diverticulum becomes inflamed. In two thirds of all cases the diverticula form in the sigmoid (s-shaped part of the colon) and are usually only pseudodiverticula. Less frequently they occur in the coecum (appendix in the medical sense, i.e. the beginning of the colon), but then they are usually congenital true diverticula.

People in industrialized countries suffer more often from diverticulitis than inhabitants of developing countries. The reason is the low-fiber diet that prevails in industrialized countries. If a person has colon diverticula (colon = large intestine), 75 percent remain asymptomatic.

Of the other 25 percent, 25 percent will bleed (about a third will have massive bleeding) and 75 percent will develop diverticulitis. The majority remain uncomplicated. Only just under a quarter then have to deal with the symptoms.

Causes of diverticulitis

Among the causes of diverticula are, for example, high pressure in the intestine in the case of constipation or weak muscles of the intestinal walls with increasing age. If stool accumulates in these diverticula, inflammation may occur. The stool that collects in these diverticula is difficult to get out of the diverticula because there is no peristalsis.

(Peristalsis = intestinal movement through wall muscles to transport the stool or food pulp from the stomach to the anus). This is how bacteria penetrate the intestinal wall. The inflammations return again and again and vary in severity.

SymptomsComplaints

In about 80 percent of the cases it is a symptomless diverticulosis. Only about 20 percent become symptomatic. A distinction is made here between the symptoms sigmoid diverticulitis (80%) coecum diverticulitis(20%) The defecation disorders in diverticulitis are due to the swollen intestinal walls, which result in a narrowed intestinal lumen.

If the inflammation recurs repeatedly, larger accumulations of pus (abscess) may occur in the small pelvis. Fever and increased inflammatory parameters are very unspecific, because they occur with every type of inflammation.Nevertheless, they are among the most common symptoms and can provide clues.

Sigmoid diverticutitis (sigma = s-shaped part of the colon) and
A coecum diverticulitis
Spontaneous pain (mostly left lower abdomen)
Irregular bowel movements (alternation between constipation and diarrhea)
It may be possible to palpate a roller with pressure pain
Blood count: inflammation parameters (BSG and CRP value) high
Fever
Pain in the right lower abdomen