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Essential Guidelines to manage Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis, also known as colon diverticulitis, is a digestive disorder that includes a spectrum of conditions. These conditions may range from asymptomatic diverticulitis to symptomatic uncomplicated diverticulitis and complicated diverticulitis that includes chronic or acute diverticulitis. Diverticulitis occurs as a result of inflammation of one or more diverticula, which are numerous tiny pockets that form in the colon wall. Chronic diverticulitis can be extremely painful and require medical attention.

Causes and symptoms
Researchers are yet to figure out the actual cause of diverticulitis. However, they think that a low-fiber diet may play a role. Without sufficient fiber, the colon needs to overwork in order to push the stool forward. This may result in the formation of small pouches along the colon. Various bacteria may grow in these pouches that can lead to inflammation.

The symptoms of diverticulitis may last for few hours to several days. Diverticulitis treatment guidelines depend on the severity of the symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of diverticulitis are as follows.

Stomach pain, tenderness or cramps on the lower side of the abdomen. This sign may become more severe while performing any movement.
Diarrhea or constipation.
Fever and chills.
Feeling of fullness or not feeling like eating.
Bloating and gas.
Nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Treatment
Patients with diverticulitis symptoms should follow diverticulitis treatment guidelines. In most cases, a brief bout of diverticulitis goes away if treated with antibiotics. The treatment is same even if the condition is chronic. In case complications arise, surgical or gastroenterology consultation may be helpful. Initial diverticulitis treatment guidelines depend on the severity of the symptoms. If the patient experiences mild pain and is able to drink the liquid and shows no signs of complications, then diverticulitis treatment guidelines include the following.

Medications such as antibiotics and pain relievers.
The oral antibiotic regimen is a combination of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. Moxifloxacin is appropriate monotherapy for the outpatient treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis.
Lifestyle modifications, including changes in diet, doctors may suggest a low fiber diet until the pain stops. Then gradually increase the fiber in the diet.

However, if the pain is severe and the patient is unable to drink any liquid, then hospital stay is recommended. The treatment in hospital will include the following:

Injection of antibiotics in a vein. For patients who require admission. monotherapy with beta-lactamase inhibiting antibiotics or carbapenems provides broad antibacterial coverage.
The doctor may prohibit eating any food or drink by mouth for up to a week allow the bowel to rest. During this time, the patient is allowed only intravenous fluids and nutrition.
Once these symptoms are resolved, the patient may have a minimum fiber diet as tolerated and afterward maintain a high-fiber diet.
Colonoscopy or barium enema with flexible sigmoidoscopy ought to be done after this episode to exclude the possibility of cancer, ischemia or other inflammatory bowel diseases.

An expanding number of studies have suggested the efficiency of various regimens of anti-inflammatory agents, including non-absorbable antimicrobials and mesalamine; for example, rifaximin and probiotics alone or along with other diverticulitis treatment guidelines.

Surgeries
In rare cases, complications such as abscess, perforation, or bowel obstruction are not treatable with the medications. To treat these conditions, doctors may perform operations to remove the affected part of the intestine. If the patient is young, had an impaired immune system, and faced two or more severe attacks, the doctors may perform a non-urgent surgery.

The surgical process involves removal of the infected part of the large intestine and reconnecting the remaining parts. Doctors may perform more than one surgery, depending on the severity of the problem. A colostomy is performed in between the surgeries: it is a process where the intestine is sewn to an opening made in the abdomen skin. The stool passes out of the body into a disposable bag. A colostomy is removed in the later stage, and the intestine is reconnected.

Your physician may suggest surgeries as per diverticulitis treatment guidelines if you have the following problems.

Repeated occurrence of diverticulitis. If the patient face two or more severe attacks then the physician may recommend surgery.
High risk of repeated attacks.
Formation of an abnormal opening in between the colon and an adjacent organ.

As per the diverticulitis treatment guidelines, the infected part of the colon is required to be removed, if you have complications that may include the following.

Formation of an infected pouch in the colon wall that has ruptured into the abdominal cavity.
Blocked colon or narrow spot.
Infection that spreads through the blood to the other parts of the body.
Repeated to severe bleeding that does not stop with other treatments.

In standard terms, surgery is usually successful, although it may not completely cure the disease. An estimated 6 out of 100 people suffering from diverticulitis may require surgery. After undergoing surgery, an estimated one in 12 patients may face a recurrence of the symptoms. In an emergency condition, the success rate depends on how unwell you are when you require the operation.

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