Diverticula are small bulges or pockets that can develop in the lining of the intestine as you get older. Most people with diverticula do not get any symptoms and only know they have them after having a scan for another reason. When there are no symptoms, it is called diverticulosis. When diverticula cause symptoms, such as pain in the lower tummy, or blood in stool, it's called diverticular disease. If the diverticula become inflamed or infected, causing more severe symptoms, it's called diverticulitis. You’re more likely to get
diverticular disease and diverticulitis if you do not get enough fibre in your diet.
Treatment for diverticular disease include high fibre diet and increased oral fluid intake. If you have diverticulitis you might need a course of antibiotics and pain killers. While you're recovering from diverticulitis, you should eat a very low-fibre diet to rest your digestive system Surgery might be needed to treat serious complications of diverticulitis such as perforation, fistula and peritonitis (spreading infection inside the abdominal cavity). It usually involves removing the affected section of your large intestine (colectomy). After a colectomy, you may have a temporary or permanent colostomy, where one end of your bowel is diverted through an opening in your tummy.
If you have recurrent episodes of diverticulitis, surgery can be considered to avoid developing
further complications. If surgery is being considered, benefits and risks will be discussed very
carefully with you.