Diverticulitis: The great unknown in the intestine

Diverticula are small bulges in the colon that many people develop over the course of their lives. If they cause discomfort and/or become inflamed, treatment is necessary. However, this can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.

Many people have colon diverticula without realizing it. When diverticular disease causes symptoms, it typically involves pain in the lower abdomen. / © Adobe Stock/ pikselstock

In a recent article on the news site "The Conversation," Dr. Sophie Davies of Cardiff Metropolitan University called diverticular disease a "surprisingly common condition you've probably never heard of." It's important to distinguish between diverticulosis, diverticular disease, and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis occurs when diverticula are present in the colon. Diverticulosis occurs when the diverticula cause symptoms. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula cause symptoms. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become inflamed.

Colon diverticula usually form in the area of blood vessels that penetrate the intestinal wall. According to the S3 guideline "Diverticular Disease/Diverticulitis," a diverticulum is an acquired protrusion of the mucosa and submucosa that penetrates the intestinal wall. If the protrusion only extends into the muscular layer of the intestinal wall, it is referred to as a pseudodiverticulum. Interestingly, in people from Western countries, diverticula predominantly form in the left side of the colon, while in Asian populations, the right side of the colon is predominantly affected.

Diverticula tend to develop in the colon because that's where the pressure of stool on the intestinal wall is greatest. / © Getty Images/selvanegra

Diverticulosis becomes increasingly common in older age: While approximately 13 percent of the population under 50 is affected, the estimated prevalence rises to 30 percent in those aged between 50 and 70, 50 percent in those aged between 70 and 85, and 66 percent in people older than 85. In addition to age, there are various other risk factors, some of which can be influenced (box).