Diverticulitis
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Diverticulitis is the inflammation of diverticulum in the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain, fever, anorexia nausea and vomiting caused by infection or inflammation. Diverticulum is the abnormal pouches of the inner lining of intestine.
What causes the diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is caused by impaction of pouches, resulting in infection or inflammation.
What are the risk factors for diverticulitis?
- Low fiber diet
- Low water intake
- Smoking and alcohol intake
- Old age
- Lack of exercise and obese people
- Taking processed foods such as white rice, cereals, and crackers, popcorn and so on
What are the signs and symptoms of diverticulitis?
- Abdominal pain, usually left lower side of abdomen
- Anorexia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever with chills
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Blood in stool
- Bloating
- Left lower abdominal tenderness
- Rebound tenderness
What are the differential diagnoses of diverticulitis?
- Appendicitis
- Peptic ulcer
- Bowel obstruction
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ovarian torsion
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
How is diverticulitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation, laboratory examination and radiological imaging
- Complete blood count for infection
- Urine routine test
- CT-Scan of abdomen
- Ultrasound of abdomen
- X-rays of the abdomen
Laparotomy (open abdomen) confirms the diagnosis of diverticulitis.
What are the complications of diverticulitis?
- Perforation of diverticulum
- Peritonitis
- Abscess
- Fistulas
- Bowel constriction
How is diverticulitis managed?
- Complete bed rest
- Admit to hospital
- Fluid and electrolyte balance
- Broad spectrum antibiotics
- Pain management
- Surgery is the proper management of diverticulitis, surgery include bowel resection or bowel resection with colostomy
What is the prognosis of diverticulitis?
With proper management prognosis is excellent
References:
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- mayoclinic.com
- betterhealth.vic.gov.au
- medicinenet.com
- netdoctor.co.uk
- Sabiston textbook of surgery 18th edi.
Filed Under: GI
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