Symptoms of Diverticulosis

Most people with diverticulosis (pronunciation – DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LOH-siss) do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.

Symptoms of Diverticulitis

The most common symptom of diverticulitis (pronunciation – DY-vur-TIK-yoo-LY-tiss) is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications.

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.

Source: digestive.niddk.nih.gov – October 2006