A painful flare-up of diverticulitis may be your first indication that you have diverticular disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Diverticula, or small herniations in your gastrointestinal tract, may form without your knowledge due to inadequate dietary fiber, straining to pass hard stools or other causes. If waste or food particles get stuck in one of these pouches, the diverticulum could become inflamed or infected. Acute diverticulitis may require medical treatment and a change in your diet.
Condition
Because the presence of diverticula may go undetected until a pouch becomes inflamed, the exact number of people affected by diverticular disease is unknown, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NDDIC. The NDDIC estimates that half the population over 60 has diverticulosis, the presence of bulging pouches in the intestinal lining. Diverticula usually occur in the colon, where waste is removed from the body. In diverticulitis, a pouch becomes inflamed, possibly due to trapped food particles or fecal material, says the NDDIC.
Symptoms
Abdominal cramps, rectal bleeding, gas, bloating and constipation may be early symptoms of diverticulitis. However, the NDDIC notes that your first sign of the condition may be a sudden, severe pain, along with nausea and vomiting. Pain most often occurs in the left lower abdomen. If a pouch is infected, you may have chills and a fever.
Treatment
Diverticulitis usually responds well to treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health. A flare-up, however, may lead to serious complications in some cases, including a rupture of the weakened area of the intestinal lining. If a pouch tears, stool could leak into the abdominal cavity, causing an abdominal abscess or a fistula, an abnormal opening between two organs. Treatment may include antibiotic therapy, intravenous fluids and a clear liquid diet to rest your gastrointestinal tract until the infection resolves. A bleeding pouch or a bowel perforation may require emergency surgery.
Diet
When diverticulitis is under control, a high-fiber diet can prevent flare-ups by adding bulk to stools and making them easier to pass. During a flare-up, your health-care provider may order a clear liquid diet to allow your digestive tract to rest. Clear liquids include broth, gelatin, juices without pulp and ice pops. When you're able to tolerate solid foods, your health-care provider may advance you to low-fiber foods until your colon heals. Low-fiber foods include white bread, white rice, eggs, yogurt, milk and canned fruits and vegetables without seeds or skins.
Recovery and Prevention
Symptoms of diverticulitis often improve within two to four days. At that point, your health-care provider may allow you to gradually add 5 to 15 g of fiber to your diet per day until you are consuming 25 to 30 g per day. A diet rich in insoluble fiber, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, bran breads and cereals and brown rice may regulate your bowel movements and prevent constipation. Drink eight cups of water per day on a high-fiber diet to keep stools soft, recommends the UCSF Medical Center.
