James A. Surrell, M.D.

What is diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is a condition in which pouches (or small pockets or sacs) form on the wall of the large intestine or colon. The pouches are usually only about one half inch or less in size, and are found most often on the left side of the colon. Most people with diverticulosis do not have any symptoms at all and they may not even know they have the condition. With diverticulosis, you do NOT have to avoid seeds, nuts, popcorn, peanuts, berries, or any specific foods at all. A high fiber diet is strongly recommended as this may prevent diverticulosis from every developing into diverticulitis.

So what is diverticulitis? The term “diverticulitis” refers to an infection or inflammation developing in one or more of the diverticulosis small pouches. The term “itis” on the end of any medical word means inflammation or infection. People with diverticulitis usually feel left-sided abdominal pain. People with diverticulitis need to be promptly treated with antibiotics, usually as an out-patient, but more serious cases may need hospitalization and I.V. antibiotics.

How are these disorders diagnosed? Most people with diverticulosis have no symptoms at all and it may be discovered by an X-ray or colonoscopy examination done for some other reason. The doctor may directly see the small diverticulosis pouches during a colonoscopy procedure. Patients experiencing the symptoms of diverticulitis with left-sided abdominal pain should see their physician without any delay to make an accurate diagnosis to determine what is causing the abdominal pain symptoms.

How common is diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is very common, especially in older adults. It is reported that, in the USA, about 30% of people over 50, 50% of people over 60, and 75% of people over 80 have diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is uncommon before the age of 40. However, only about 10 to 20% of patients with diverticulosis ever have any problems such as diverticulitis. Further, people with diverticulosis who follow a high fiber diet will decrease their risk of ever developing diverticulitis.

Are these disorders serious? For most people, diverticulosis is not a problem. However, diverticulitis is a serious medical condition. An infected or inflamed diverticulosis pouch can lead to very serious pocket of infection called an abscess in or around the bowel wall. Of course all people experiencing any persistent abdominal pain symptoms should always see their physician without delay for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

How are diverticulosis and diverticulitis treated? If you have diverticulosis with no symptoms, treatment is not required, but you should definitely follow a high fiber diet. Fiber-rich foods such as whole grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, and other high fiber foods reduce pressure in the colon and promote a healthy digestive tract with a normal bowel pattern. A simple way to increase the amount of fiber in your diet is to take one heaping teaspoon of sugar free Metamucil, or other brands of sugar free fiber supplements, in water once a day, every day. This has been proven to significantly reduce the risk of recurrent diverticulitis. Patients with proven diverticulitis should be treated with antibiotics right away. Severe cases may require hospitalization and possible surgery. Of curse, your personal health care provider is available to discuss diverticulosis and diverticulitis with you in greater detail.