Diverticular Symptoms | Diverticular Disease

Many individuals who develop diverticular disease (the active phase of the disease) will no display symptoms. However a small percentage of diverticulitis sufferers may experience one or several of the following symptoms.

1) Diarrhoea: Frequent, watery bowel movements and constant loss of fluid may lead to dehydration. If this symptom is severe replenishing of fluids is necessary. In severe cases hospitalisation my required.
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Increased constipation: The failure of the body to eliminate faecal matter, despite the urge to do so. Constipation can result in feeling uncomfortable and bloated and if left untreated for a long period of time it may result in toxicity. It can worsen or cause diverticulitis.

2) Abdominal Pain or cramps: This is commonly the feeling of pain or tenderness around the abdominal area. It is the most common symptom of the deverticular desease diverticulitis and indicative of inflammation of the diverticula due to infection. The severity of the pain is not always indicative of seriousness of the condition as a mild condition may result in extreme pain, whereas a serious condition may result in mild pain.

3) Abdominal Bloating: Characterised by feelings of tightness and fullness in the abdominal area usually due pressure or gas. This is also a very common symptom of deverticular disease.

4) Steatorrhoea: The presence of excess amounts of fat in the stool due to malabsorption. Stools appear to be bulky, light in colour and tend to float in surrounding water. Diarrhoea is a common symptom accompanying steatorrhoea.

5) Nausea: An uneasy sensation in the abdomen as a result of the inflammation of the diverticula and the presence of infection.

6) Vomiting: Vomiting generally follows nausea.

7) Fever: this is another possible symptom of diverticular disease with elevated temperature, sweating, and cold clammy hands.

Excessive flatulence and Distension: Excess passing of gas accompanied by bloating of the abdomen indicative of the diverticular disease, diverticulitis.

9) Polyuria, Dysuria and Pyuria are health conditions that are present in some cases of diverticular disease.

a. Polyuria: An increase in frequency of urination i.e. a person finds themselves needing to go to the toilet more often.

b. Dysuria: Pain upon urination.

c. Pyuiria: The presence of pus or white blood cells in the urine, urine often presents as cloudy if pus is present. in someway due to the presence of inflamed diverticula.

10) Diverticular disease can also lead to complications such as colon perforation, intestinal blockage, colon abscess, colon fistula and peritonitis

The severity of symptoms in diverticular diease cases dependents on the degree of inflammation and extent of infection of the diverticula. If experiencing any of these symptoms, see your health care provider as symptoms re-sample those of other gastro-intestinal disorder Commonly treatment of acute symptoms of diverticular disease will be treated with a course of antibiotics and a liquid diet.

diverticular disease

The information, suggestions, and research described herein are intended to be purely educational. They are not intended to replace the services and advice of your physician. Read more….