Diverticulitis history and symptoms

Diverticulitis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Diverticulitis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
XRay
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Diverticulitis history and symptoms On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Diverticulitis history and symptoms All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Diverticulitis history and symptoms
CDC on Diverticulitis history and symptoms
Diverticulitis history and symptoms in the news
Blogs on Diverticulitis history and symptoms
Directions to Hospitals Treating Diverticulitis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Diverticulitis history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

When taking a medical history, the doctor may ask about bowel habits, pain, other symptoms, diet, and medications. The physical exam usually involves a digital rectal exam. To perform this test, the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to detect tenderness, blockage, or blood. The doctor may check stool for signs of bleeding and test blood for signs of infection.

History and symptoms

Diverticulitis clinical manifestations depends on the severity of the organ inflammation. Patients infected with the disease usually give history of lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever and change in bowel habits either constipation or diarrhea. They also may complain of nausea and vomiting. Less commonly, an individual with diverticulitis may present with right-sided abdominal pain. This may be due to the less prevalent right-sided diverticula or a very redundant sigmoid colon.

Most common symptoms

Diverticulitis common sympotms include the following:

• Abdominal pain especially left lower quadrant
• Abdominal distension
• Fever
• Cramps
• Constipation

Less common symptoms

In some cases of diverticulitis, the patients may present with the following:

• Flatulence
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Diverticulitis

The most common symptom of diverticulitis 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.