Diverticulitis: Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnosis Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Diverticulitis What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Diverticulitis and How Is It Diagnosed Pain in your lower left side is the most common symptom of diverticulitis, but you should be aware of other signs as well. Here, learn what those are, as well as how the GI illness is diagnosed. By Ajai RajMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Reviewed: March 6, 2018 Medically Reviewed Symptoms of diverticulitis may include diarrhea, cramping, and fever.Shutterstock More in Digestive Health 9 Common Digestive Conditions From Top to Bottom Diverticulitis develops from a condition called diverticulosis, in which small, saclike pouches called diverticula form on the wall of the digestive tract. By themselves, these pouches are not dangerous, but when they become inflamed, infected, or ruptured — or any combination of the three — diverticulitis occurs.Once that happens, it’s important to seek medical attention. Caught early and with mild symptoms, diverticulitis can be treated with antibiotics, a liquid diet, and an over-the-counter pain medicine like Why It s Important to Know the Signs of Diverticulitis Because prompt More in Digestive Health Here's What May Be Causing Your Digestive Gas Pain “The acute onset of abdominal pain should always be evaluated by a professional to help identify if the cause of the pain is potentially life-threatening,” says Donald Tsynman, MD, a gastroenterologist at Manhattan Gastroenterology in New York City. “It’s definitely not something you should ever ignore.” With that in mind, it’s key to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of diverticulitis. What Are Some Common Diverticulitis Symptoms The abdominal pain described above may also be accompanied by some of these typical diverticulitis symptoms: NauseaVomitingFeverChillsNight sweatsA tender feeling in the abdomen What Does Diverticulitis Pain Feel Like “Classically, the pain from diverticulitis is a sharp, progressive pain of the left lower quadrant of the abdomen,” Dr. Tsynman says. “But everyone experiences pain differently, and diseases certainly don’t read textbooks to learn how they should show up, so any sharp, consistent pain in the abdomen should be taken very seriously, especially if accompanied by other symptoms.”The pain might also be accompanied by a tender feeling, which could indicate the presence of an abscess, or pocket of pus that can form in a ruptured diverticulum, says How Long Does the Pain From Diverticulitis Typically Last “If you have diverticulitis with no complications, typically after diagnosis we treat with antibiotics,” Altawil says. “We usually see improvement within the first 24 hours, then considerable improvement within three to five days, and then the disease resolves in about 10 days.” If there is no improvement in the pain or other symptoms after three days, Altawil typically brings the patient in for additional assessment to check for potentially serious complications. When Might Rectal Bleeding Signal Diverticulitis Common Symptoms of Hemorrhoids You Should Know Pain around the anus while sitting, bright red blood on toilet paper, and pain during bowel movements are just some of the possible warning signs of this condition. Article The Most Surprising Signs of Diverticulitis Although on the rarer side, the following might also indicate the presence of diverticulitis, especially in the presence of abdominal pain and other common symptoms:DiarrheaElevated white blood cell count How Is Diverticulitis Diagnosed Exactly Your doctor may use the following tests to diagnose diverticulitis:A physical exam Should You Contact Your Doctor if You Show Symptoms of Diverticulitis More in Digestive Health Is It Gas Pain or Something More Serious? Tsynman and Altawil agree that if you’re experiencing any kind of acute, persistent abdominal pain, that alone is enough reason to go to your doctor. “Abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, night sweats — if you’re experiencing these symptoms, or some combination of them, you should see a physician right away.”Tsynman adds: “All NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Digestive Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking ReferencesReichert MC, Krawczyk M, Appenrodt B, et al. Selective Association of Nonaspirin NSAIDs With Risk of Diverticulitis. Show Less The Latest in Diverticulitis Diverticulitis Causes and Risk Factors Although scientists widely believe constipation is one of the main causes of diverticulitis, you should be aware of other causes and risk factors for ...By Ajai RajSeptember 30, 2022 What Is Diverticulitis? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and PreventionBy Ashley WelchMay 12, 2022 How Is Diverticulitis Treated? Traditional, Alternative, and Surgical Options to Consider Diverticulitis can happen suddenly, but whether your attack is mild or severe, there are ways to overcome the ache and get back on your feet.By Valencia HigueraMarch 3, 2022 What Are the Potential Complications and Comorbidities of Diverticulitis? Untreated, diverticulitis can be serious, leading to issues such as bowel obstruction and fistula. Get the information you need to lower your risk for...By Rena GoldmanMarch 20, 2018 14 Online Resources for Preventing or Treating Diverticulitis Looking for ways to cope with diverticulitis? Here’s a list of online resources to bookmark the next time you need tips on controlling and managing symptoms...By Valencia HigueraMarch 16, 2018 The Best and Worst Foods for Managing or Preventing Diverticulitis Eating a diet high in fiber can help prevent diverticulitis. But it’s important to avoid fiber if you have the condition.By Angela Lemond, RDNMarch 14, 2018 What Is the Sigmoid Colon, and What Does It Have to Do With Diverticulitis? Everything You Need to Know Diverticulitis often affects the sigmoid colon. Learn how to keep this section of your colon healthy to prevent an attack.By Valencia HigueraMarch 14, 2018 Study Shows Depression Affects IBD Patients and Their Siblings New research is the first to show a bidirectional link between inflammatory bowel disease and depression.By Ashley WelchOctober 6, 2022 Gut Check: Can Cookie Dough Really Harm Your Gut? 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