What are the warning signs of diverticulitis?

The signs and symptoms of diverticulitis include: Pain, which may be constant and persist for several days. The lower left side of the abdomen is the usual site of the pain. ... Nausea and vomiting. Fever. Abdominal tenderness. Constipation or, less commonly, diarrhea.

mayoclinic.org - Diverticulitis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

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Overview

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis Open pop-up dialog box Close Diverticulosis and diverticulitis Diverticulosis and diverticulitis Diverticulosis occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) develop in your digestive tract. When one or more of these pouches become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis. Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. They are found most often in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). Diverticula are common, especially after age 40, and seldom cause problems. The presence of diverticula is known as diverticulosis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LOE-sis). When one or more of the pouches become inflamed, and in some cases infected, that condition is known as diverticulitis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LIE-tis). Diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits. Mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes in your diet and antibiotics. Severe or recurring diverticulitis may require surgery.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of diverticulitis include:

Pain, which may be constant and persist for several days. The lower left side of the abdomen is the usual site of the pain. Sometimes, however, the right side of the abdomen is more painful, especially in people of Asian descent.

Nausea and vomiting.

Fever.

Abdominal tenderness.

Constipation or, less commonly, diarrhea.

When to see a doctor

Get medical attention anytime you have constant, unexplained abdominal pain, particularly if you also have a fever and constipation or diarrhea. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Causes

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Diverticula usually develop when naturally weak places in your colon give way under pressure. This causes marble-sized pouches to protrude through the colon wall. Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula tear, resulting in inflammation, and in some cases, infection.

Risk factors

Several factors may increase your risk of developing diverticulitis:

Aging. The incidence of diverticulitis increases with age.

The incidence of diverticulitis increases with age. Obesity. Being seriously overweight increases your odds of developing diverticulitis. Being seriously overweight increases your odds of developing diverticulitis. Smoking. People who smoke cigarettes are more likely than nonsmokers to experience diverticulitis. People who smoke cigarettes are more likely than nonsmokers to experience diverticulitis. Lack of exercise. Vigorous exercise appears to lower your risk of diverticulitis. Vigorous exercise appears to lower your risk of diverticulitis. Diet high in animal fat and low in fiber. A low-fiber diet in combination with a high intake of animal fat seems to increase risk, although the role of low fiber alone isn't clear. A low-fiber diet in combination with a high intake of animal fat seems to increase risk, although the role of low fiber alone isn't clear. Certain medications. Several drugs are associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis, including steroids, opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

Complications

About 25% of people with acute diverticulitis develop complications, which may include:

An abscess, which occurs when pus collects in the pouch.

A blockage in your bowel caused by scarring.

An abnormal passageway (fistula) between sections of bowel or the bowel and other organs. Peritonitis, which can occur if the infected or inflamed pouch ruptures, spilling intestinal contents into your abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is a medical emergency and requires immediate care.