Diverticulitis is typically a digestive disease that occurs in the large intestine or colon, and rarely in the small intestine. The walls of the intestine are split into pouches or diverticulae. When the diverticulae get inflamed due to infection or disease, the condition is called diverticulitis.
 

Though the actual causes of the abdominal problem, diverticulitis, are not known, the following are some of the conditions associated with this digestive disease: aging, low-fiber diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.

One of the main symptoms of this digestive disease is severe abdominal pain. Pain in the left lower quadrant creating abdominal problems is a symptom of diverticulitis. Watch out for these symptoms for this digestive disease: reddening of the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, swelling of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fever, cramping, and diarrhea. The severity of symptoms is directly related to the severity of the infection. Those who have developed diverticulitis may have minor abdominal problems such as pain and mild reddening of the abdomen on the first day. However, since this is a digestive disease, it can progress quickly and lead to sharp pain and vomiting also. In rare cases, people have also reported bleeding from the rectum.
 

According to a study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, diverticulitis occurs more often in middle-aged and elderly people. When it occurs in younger people, the symptoms of this digestive disease are associated with obesity.

 

When left untreated, this digestive disease can worsen and lead to abcess formation, blockage of the colon, formation of fistula, and peritonitis. CT scans provide an accurate picture of diverticulosis and are widely used in the diagnosis of diverticulitis.

Treatment of diverticulitis is achieved by providing sufficient rest to the bowel and by administering antibiotics. Eating high-fiber diet aids in the treatment of diverticulitis. Drinking fluids and avoiding solid foods in the beginning and adequate rest are essential in the treatment of this digestive disease. In case of bloating, reduce the amount of fiber intake temporarily for a few days to effectively fight this digestive disease.

In certain severe cases, surgery may be necessary for the treatment of diverticulitis.

Is there is a specific diet to be avoided in case of diverticulitis? In olden days, people used to think that corn and nuts could aggravate diverticulitis. A recent study published in the Journal of Family Practice has proved that this is not true. However, eating nuts and corn can reduce the risk of diverticulitis in men.