Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease refers to three medical conditions – diverticulosis, diverticular bleeding, and diverticular infection/diverticulitis. In these conditions, diverticula is present. Diverticula are small pouches that bulge from the wall of the large intestine. This is caused when the inner lining of the intestine is pushed through weak spots in the muscle wall of the bowel. Diverticular disease is a common condition that mostly affects older individuals.
The most common symptoms of diverticular disease include changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), lower abdominal pain, bloating or blood in stool.
With diverticular disease, blood will appear red or maroon in color. In some cases the presence of diverticula is not a major concern, however with bleeding there is a risk of infection, which should be addressed promptly. Approximately 10 percent of individuals with diverticular disease are hospitalized annually, and in many cases, surgery is necessary.
