Diverticular Disease 

Diverticular disease occurs when small pouches form in the colon. There are several types of diverticular disease:

• Diverticulitis: The pouches become red and swollen (inflamed) or infected
• Diverticulosis: There are one or more pouches in your colon
• Diverticular bleeding: A blood vessel in a pouch opens and starts to bleed

Diverticulosis is common, especially in people over 60 years old.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diverticular disease include:

• Cramps
• Stomach pain, especially on the left side of your lower belly
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Fever, nausea, chills, and vomiting, if you have an infection
• Bleeding from the rectum

Treatments

Treatment for diverticular disease depends on how severe your condition is, your symptoms, age, and overall health. They may include:

• Adding fiber to your diet
• Pain medications
• Antibiotics
• A short-term clear liquid diet
• A tube to drain pus if you have a severe infection

Risk Factors

Doctors aren't sure exactly what causes diverticular disease. However, things that may raise your risk include:

• Eating a low-fiber diet
• Being over the age of 60
• Eating a lot of red meat
• Not exercising
• Obesity
• Immune issues
• Certain medications