Diverticulitis

Beverly Hills Gastroenterologist

Diverticulitis is a painful condition in which pouches (called diverticula) form along the inside walls of the colon. These pouches can become inflamed – and even lacerated – causing extreme pain. If left untreated, diverticulitis can be very dangerous.

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Symptoms & Diagnosis of Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis symptoms can come and go, usually lasting for hours at a time. They include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Bloating and gas
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite

Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed by a series of blood tests – including a complete blood count (CBC) – and scans including x-rays or CT scans.

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Treatment

Diverticulitis can usually be managed through lifestyle and diet changes, weight loss, and antibiotics. If recurrence of diverticulitis occur, or a patient has a case of “complicated diverticulitis”, surgery to remove a small segment of the colon may be necessary.

Contact Center for GI Health today at (310) 657-4444 to make an appointment with our Beverly Hills gastroenterologist.