Types Of Diverticulitis Features And Treatment

Types of Diverticulitis Symptoms and Treatment

There are several different types of diverticulitis. Each one has its own Symptoms and treatments. The first type of diverticulitis is “diverticulitis uncomplicated in stable patients”. The second type of diverticulitis is “diverticulitis uncomplicated in older or ill patients”, and the third and final type of diverticulitis is “diverticulitis complicated”.

The Symptoms of diverticulitis uncomplicated in stable patients are: abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis and not being able to tolerate oral fluids due to vomiting. The Symptoms of diverticulitis uncomplicated in older or ill patients are: abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, an inability to tolerate oral fluids due to vomiting, and in this type the patient is older than 85 years of age or is ill with another medical condition. The Symptoms of diverticulitis complicated are abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, with or without sepsis, and the presence of a perforation, abscess, fistula or an obstruction.

The treatment for diverticulitis uncomplicated in stable patients is to administer oral antibiotics and to place the patient on a clear liquid diet, it is advised not to give morphine (Duramorph) because of the risk of increasing intracolonic pressure. The treatment for diverticulitis uncomplicated in older or in ill patients is to administer intravenous antibiotic and to administer intravenous fluids, in order to give the colon a rest. Therefore it is wise not to give anything at all by mouth. Demerol may be given for pain.

To treat diverticulitis complicated it is desired to stabilize the patient with fluids and also antibiotics. A surgical consultation is necessary if damage to the colon is present. The complicating condition must be dealt with in a speedy fashion to prevent further damage.

Determining which type of diverticulitis is the job of the attending doctor when the individual is seen at the emergency room. Symptoms, medical history and test results are factors used to determine the type. The abdominal pain is common to all three. Other symptoms that are common are nausea, vomiting, as well as either constipation or diarrhea. Age, the presence of an additional medical condition, and complications are to be considered. Certain symptoms are similar for all three types of diverticulitis, so the attending must look for other medical factors and the medical history for a diagnosis.

When making the diagnosis it is also important to keep in mind that other conditions can mimic diverticulitis such as irritable bowel syndrome. Computed tomography (CT) scans, the physical exam of the abdomen, and blood tests to check for elevated white blood cell counts and other signs of infection are important tools for arriving at an accurate diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis is made, a treatment plan can be formulated based on the type of diverticulitis.

News About Diverticulitis

North Penn VNA offering colorectal cancer screening kits (North Penn Life) 17 Mar 2010 at 2:43pm
In conjunction with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association offers free stool blood test kits Thursday at its office at 51 Medical Campus Drive, Hatfield, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

VNA offering colorectal cancer screening kits (The Reporter) 17 Mar 2010 at 6:29am
Staff Writer HATFIELD TWP. ? In conjunction with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the North Penn Visiting Nurse Association offers free stool blood test kits Thursday at its office at 51 Medical Campus Drive from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Community notes: Free blood test (The Reporter) 16 Mar 2010 at 5:45am
HATFIELD - Free test kits on Thursday

St. Luke's Miners welcomes fellowship trained colon, rectal surgeons (Times N... 15 Mar 2010 at 2:19pm
W. Terence Reilly, MD, FASCRS, Camille Eyvazzadeh, MD, FASCRS and Daniel J. Bowers, MD are treating patients at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital.

Sidelined no more (Honolulu Star-Bulletin) 10 Mar 2010 at 3:39am
Colin Nishida, chef-owner at the popular Side Street Inn, survived a life-threatening medical battle last year that left him unconscious in the hospital for two months. Now he has five bellybuttons.

Rochester writers (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) 7 Mar 2010 at 2:12am
Bruce Bennett writes a novel that joins people from many cultures; RIT graduate David S. Kidder contributes to a book on health.

Have Your Steak and Eat It, Too (The Cornell Daily Sun) 4 Mar 2010 at 9:17pm
Sometimes I try to be a public servant. And no ? that was not a typo ? there was meant to be an ?l? in ?public.? Therefore as my duty to my gender and all that is hol(e)y, I must inform, promote and encourage others to observe the most under-appreciated, under-celebrated (and hopefully not undercooked), holiday of the year.

Expert gives talk to seniors on healthy eating (Wilton Bulletin) 3 Mar 2010 at 9:08pm
March is National Nutrition Month and on Wednesday, March 10, at Ogden House, Elaine Abrams will remind us that good diet habits are particularly important for older adults. Why? Because diet plays a vital role in disease prevention and management as we age.

Top 5 Ways to Get More Fiber (ABC News) 1 Mar 2010 at 7:11am
Dr. Marie Savard on how to improve your health by increasing your fiber intake. Business - Fiber - Textiles and Nonwovens - Telecommunications - Equipment

Doc says, eat your fibre (North Island MidWeek) 1 Mar 2010 at 1:08pm
By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Diverticulitis Books & Resources

The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut : The Complete Nutritional Guide to Ileiti...

The New Eating Right for a Bad Gut : The Complete Nutritional Guide to Ileitis, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Paperback)
By James Scala

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First tagged "diverticulitis" by Irish Lady "Stargazer"

Diverticulitis: Safe Alternatives Without Drugs Thorsons Natural Health

Diverticulitis: Safe Alternatives Without Drugs Thorsons Natural Health (The Self Help Series) (Paperback)
By Arthur White

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