Table of contents:
- Signs and symptoms of diverticulitis
- Is bloody stool a symptom of diverticulitis?
- So, how do you treat inflammation of the colon sac (diverticulitis)?
Diverticulitis is inflammation and infection that occurs in the sacs of the large intestine. Unfortunately, this disease is often overlooked because the symptoms tend to be similar to those of other diseases. Even if it is not treated immediately, this condition can cause more serious complications, such as a festering and torn intestine. So, what are the symptoms of diverticulitis?
Signs and symptoms of diverticulitis
One of the most common and easily recognizable symptoms of diverticulitis is acute pain in the abdomen. Usually, the pain appears in the lower left abdomen. However, it can also occur in the lower right abdomen, especially in Asians. This condition can occur continuously and for days, even after being treated.
Other most common signs and symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Fever
- Excessive sweating at night
- The stomach feels pressed
- Constipation
According to Dr. Johnny Altawil, a gastroenterologist at Gastrointestinal Associates in Knoxville, Tennessee, stomach pain from diverticulitis can also be mild and tender. Although it seems trivial, this actually indicates that the large intestinal sac (diverticulum) has ruptured and forms an abscess, aka a pocket of pus.
If diverticulitis reaches a chronic stage and leads to complications, the pain may also be accompanied by a lump in the abdomen. This condition feels like there is a large ball that is stuck in your stomach.
Apart from the most common abdominal pain, diverticulitis can also be characterized by other symptoms, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Increased white blood cell count
- Bloody urine
- Heart rate increases
- Hypotension
These symptoms of diverticulitis can be a sign that your large intestinal sac has burst and is spilling its contents into the abdominal cavity. As a result, this condition can lead to abscesses (collections of pus), fistulas (abnormal ducts as a result of inflammation), or peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane of the abdominal cavity).
Is bloody stool a symptom of diverticulitis?
Because diverticulitis occurs in the large intestine, you might think that bloody stools might be a symptom of diverticulitis. In some cases, inflammation of the large intestine can indeed trigger injury and cause bleeding so that the blood is carried away by the feces and causes bloody bowel movements.
Quoted from Everyday Health, bloody bowel movements can be a symptom of diverticulitis, but the cases are very rare. Chronic diverticulitis can indeed make the lining of the intestine inflamed, causing bleeding.
However, one symptom alone is not sufficient to prove a person has diverticulitis. So, bloody bowel movements must be accompanied by other symptoms that lead to diverticulitis.
So, how do you treat inflammation of the colon sac (diverticulitis)?
Basically, inflammation of the large intestine sac or mild diverticulitis can be treated by taking antibiotics appropriately. The effect of this antibiotic will usually work quickly within 24 hours to reduce pain for the next 3 to 5 days. If you continue to take medication regularly, the abdominal pain caused by diverticulitis will completely disappear within 10 days.
However, if the symptoms worsen after three days, the doctor will usually perform additional medical examinations to determine the severity of the complications experienced by the patient. That way, doctors can immediately take action and treat diverticulitis in patients.
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