Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

Contents of this Article

What are Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis?
Symptoms of Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis
Complications of Diverticulitis
Causes of Diverticular Disease
How is Diverticular Disease Diagnosed?

Testing for Diverticular Disease
Treatment for Diverticular Disease
When is Surgery Necessary for Diverticulitis?
Points to Remember

What are Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis?

Many people have small pouches in their colon that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. The colon is part of the large intestine that removes waste from your body.

Each pouch is called a diverticulum, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-lum.

Pouches (plural) are called diverticula, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-luh.

The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LOH-siss.

When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LY-tiss. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease, pronunciation - DY-vur-TIK-yoo-lur.

About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. Starting at age 40, the chance of getting it increases about every 10 years. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis. Almost everyone over 80 has it.

The colon (large intestine) and an enlargement of it showing diverticula.

References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
NIH Publication No. 07-1163
October 2006
digestive.niddk.nih.gov

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