Reticulitis in humans: Diverticulitis – Symptoms and causes
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis – Better Health Channel
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Summary
Read the full fact sheet
- Diverticulosis is the formation of abnormal pouches in the bowel wall.
- Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of these abnormal pouches.
- Together, these conditions are known as diverticular disease.
- Treatment options include a change of diet, antibiotics and (rarely) surgery.
Diverticulosis occurs when small defects in the muscle of the wall of the large intestine or colon allow small pockets or pouches (diverticula) to form. Diverticulitis is infection or inflammation of these abnormal pouches. Together, these conditions are called diverticular disease.
Despite having some symptoms in common, diverticular disease isn’t associated with more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer.
However, diverticulitis is often a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention and, frequently, admission to hospital. Mild attacks can be treated at home, but should always be assessed promptly.
Causes of diverticular disease
Diverticulosis is extremely common. Old age and diet may be the most important risk factors. More than half of all adults over the age of 70 have the condition. Most of these people are unaware that they have diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis is less common in people under 50. Studies appear to show that diverticulosis became more common in the 20th century. It is also more common in ‘Western’ nations including North America, Europe and Australia. It is less common in Asia and very uncommon in Africa.
Discovery of these facts led to the theory that the low-fibre diet common in Western nations may be important. Animal studies show that this theory is possible. It has also been shown that vegetarians less commonly develop diverticulosis.
Exactly how a low-fibre diet may cause diverticulosis is not known.
There may also be genetic causes. It is interesting that Western people develop diverticulosis in the last third of the colon, while people in Asian countries – such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore – generally develop diverticulosis in the first section of the colon. In the Japanese population living in Hawaii, the risk of diverticulosis is higher than those living in Japan. However, when diverticulosis develops in these people, it is still in the ‘Japanese’ location – the first third of the colon.
Diverticulitis seems to occur when a small puncture develops in the diverticular wall. This causes a small infection to develop, often forming an abscess.
Symptoms of diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic (has no symptoms). However, when many diverticula (pouches) are present, the normal smooth working of the bowel can be affected. This may cause a range of symptoms including:
- abdominal pain and bloating
- constipation and diarrhoea
- flatulence
- blood in the faeces – this is usually minor, but bleeding can sometimes be heavy if a diverticulum gets inflamed or is near a blood vessel
- anaemia from repeated bleeding may occur.
Many of these symptoms are similar to those of bowel cancer. Diverticulosis is more common, so these symptoms may be more likely to be due to diverticulosis than cancer. However, a specialist will usually assess these symptoms – your doctor will refer you.
Symptoms of diverticulitis
Symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- sharp pain, often located at a specific point – for example, in the lower left half of the abdomen
- fever
- distension (bloating) of the abdomen
- nausea and vomiting.
Complications of diverticular disease
Some of the possible complications of diverticular disease include:
- Abscess – untreated, diverticulitis may lead to an abscess (a ball of pus).
- Perforation – a weakened pocket of bowel wall may rupture. The contents of the bowel can then seep into the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include pain, high fever and chills. A perforated bowel is a medical emergency.
- Peritonitis – perforation can lead to peritonitis (infection of the membranes that line the abdominal cavity and abdominal organs). This complication is potentially life threatening.
- Haemorrhage – diverticula can be the source of haemorrhage. When bleeding occurs, it is important to exclude other causes. A person with diverticulosis can also get cancer.
This complication is potentially life threatening.Diagnosis of diverticular disease
Since diverticulosis is often asymptomatic (without symptoms), it tends to be discovered during examinations for other conditions such as colorectal cancer. Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed during an acute attack.
Tests to confirm the diagnosis of diverticular disease include:
- medical history – including dietary habits
- physical examination – including rectal examination
- colonoscopy – a slender flexible tube inserted into the anus so that the doctor can look at the entire length of the large intestine
- barium enema – a special contrasting dye flushed into the bowel via the anus and x-rays are taken
- CT scan – to detect abscesses outside the bowel lining
- blood tests – to check for signs of infection
- stool tests – to check for the presence of blood in the faeces or the presence of infections, which may mimic the symptoms of diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
Treatment for diverticulosis
For a person with diverticulosis, there is no proven way to prevent the formation of new diverticula. Treatment revolves around the settling of symptoms.
- A gradual switch to a diet with increased soluble fibre (green vegetables, oat bran and fibre supplements such as psyllium) usually leads to an improvement in bowel habit and mild symptoms.
- Some foods may make symptoms worse or even lead to diverticulitis. Nuts, seeds and pips are best avoided, while some people find avoiding legumes (peas and beans) and sweet corn also helps.
- Short-term use of laxatives to treat and prevent constipation may be advised.
- Rarely, elective surgery is performed to remove seriously affected bowel segments when symptoms are disabling.
Treatment for diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is often a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention and, frequently, admission to hospital. Mild attacks can be treated at home, but should always be assessed promptly.
Treatment may include:
- no eating or drinking – intravenous fluids are given to rest the bowel
- antibiotics
- pain-relieving medication
- surgery – if the weakened sections of bowel wall have ruptured or become obstructed, or if the attack of infection fails to settle
- colostomy – if it isn’t possible to rejoin the healthy sections of bowel, a colostomy bag will be fitted. This is more common if the surgery is performed as an emergency. The use of a colostomy is generally temporary and the bowel can be rejoined after six to 12 months, if health permits
- the long-term use of a mild antibiotic – this is often necessary to prevent further attacks.
Self-care suggestions
Suggestions include:
- Increase your daily intake of green vegetables. Introduce fibre gradually to avoid unpleasant symptoms such as flatulence.
- Consider using a fibre supplement (such as psyllium).
- Drink plenty of fluids to ensure your stools are soft, moist and easy to pass.
- Exercise regularly to encourage bowel function and peristalsis.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Gastroenterologist or specialist surgeon
- Dietitian – Find an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) in your areaExternal Link
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis [online], GastroNet Australia, ACT. More information here.External Link
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis [online], The Centre for Digestive Diseases – Sydney. More information here.External Link
- Diverticulitis [online], Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, USA. More information here.External Link
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:
Give feedback about this page
Was this page helpful?
More information
Content disclaimer
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Reviewed on: 31-08-2014
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis – Better Health Channel
Actions for this page
Summary
Read the full fact sheet
- Diverticulosis is the formation of abnormal pouches in the bowel wall.
- Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of these abnormal pouches.
- Together, these conditions are known as diverticular disease.
- Treatment options include a change of diet, antibiotics and (rarely) surgery.
Diverticulosis occurs when small defects in the muscle of the wall of the large intestine or colon allow small pockets or pouches (diverticula) to form. Diverticulitis is infection or inflammation of these abnormal pouches. Together, these conditions are called diverticular disease.
Despite having some symptoms in common, diverticular disease isn’t associated with more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer. However, diverticulitis is often a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention and, frequently, admission to hospital. Mild attacks can be treated at home, but should always be assessed promptly.
Causes of diverticular disease
Diverticulosis is extremely common.
Old age and diet may be the most important risk factors. More than half of all adults over the age of 70 have the condition. Most of these people are unaware that they have diverticulosis.
Diverticulosis is less common in people under 50. Studies appear to show that diverticulosis became more common in the 20th century. It is also more common in ‘Western’ nations including North America, Europe and Australia. It is less common in Asia and very uncommon in Africa.
Discovery of these facts led to the theory that the low-fibre diet common in Western nations may be important. Animal studies show that this theory is possible. It has also been shown that vegetarians less commonly develop diverticulosis. Exactly how a low-fibre diet may cause diverticulosis is not known.
There may also be genetic causes. It is interesting that Western people develop diverticulosis in the last third of the colon, while people in Asian countries – such as Japan, Taiwan and Singapore – generally develop diverticulosis in the first section of the colon.
In the Japanese population living in Hawaii, the risk of diverticulosis is higher than those living in Japan. However, when diverticulosis develops in these people, it is still in the ‘Japanese’ location – the first third of the colon.
Diverticulitis seems to occur when a small puncture develops in the diverticular wall. This causes a small infection to develop, often forming an abscess.
Symptoms of diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic (has no symptoms). However, when many diverticula (pouches) are present, the normal smooth working of the bowel can be affected. This may cause a range of symptoms including:
- abdominal pain and bloating
- constipation and diarrhoea
- flatulence
- blood in the faeces – this is usually minor, but bleeding can sometimes be heavy if a diverticulum gets inflamed or is near a blood vessel
- anaemia from repeated bleeding may occur.
Many of these symptoms are similar to those of bowel cancer.
Diverticulosis is more common, so these symptoms may be more likely to be due to diverticulosis than cancer. However, a specialist will usually assess these symptoms – your doctor will refer you.
Symptoms of diverticulitis
Symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- sharp pain, often located at a specific point – for example, in the lower left half of the abdomen
- fever
- distension (bloating) of the abdomen
- nausea and vomiting.
Complications of diverticular disease
Some of the possible complications of diverticular disease include:
- Abscess – untreated, diverticulitis may lead to an abscess (a ball of pus).
- Perforation – a weakened pocket of bowel wall may rupture. The contents of the bowel can then seep into the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include pain, high fever and chills. A perforated bowel is a medical emergency.
- Peritonitis – perforation can lead to peritonitis (infection of the membranes that line the abdominal cavity and abdominal organs). This complication is potentially life threatening.
- Haemorrhage – diverticula can be the source of haemorrhage. When bleeding occurs, it is important to exclude other causes. A person with diverticulosis can also get cancer.
This complication is potentially life threatening.Diagnosis of diverticular disease
Since diverticulosis is often asymptomatic (without symptoms), it tends to be discovered during examinations for other conditions such as colorectal cancer. Diverticulitis is usually diagnosed during an acute attack.
Tests to confirm the diagnosis of diverticular disease include:
- medical history – including dietary habits
- physical examination – including rectal examination
- colonoscopy – a slender flexible tube inserted into the anus so that the doctor can look at the entire length of the large intestine
- barium enema – a special contrasting dye flushed into the bowel via the anus and x-rays are taken
- CT scan – to detect abscesses outside the bowel lining
- blood tests – to check for signs of infection
- stool tests – to check for the presence of blood in the faeces or the presence of infections, which may mimic the symptoms of diverticulosis and diverticulitis.
Treatment for diverticulosis
For a person with diverticulosis, there is no proven way to prevent the formation of new diverticula. Treatment revolves around the settling of symptoms.
- A gradual switch to a diet with increased soluble fibre (green vegetables, oat bran and fibre supplements such as psyllium) usually leads to an improvement in bowel habit and mild symptoms.
- Some foods may make symptoms worse or even lead to diverticulitis. Nuts, seeds and pips are best avoided, while some people find avoiding legumes (peas and beans) and sweet corn also helps.
- Short-term use of laxatives to treat and prevent constipation may be advised.
- Rarely, elective surgery is performed to remove seriously affected bowel segments when symptoms are disabling.
Treatment for diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is often a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention and, frequently, admission to hospital. Mild attacks can be treated at home, but should always be assessed promptly.
Treatment may include:
- no eating or drinking – intravenous fluids are given to rest the bowel
- antibiotics
- pain-relieving medication
- surgery – if the weakened sections of bowel wall have ruptured or become obstructed, or if the attack of infection fails to settle
- colostomy – if it isn’t possible to rejoin the healthy sections of bowel, a colostomy bag will be fitted. This is more common if the surgery is performed as an emergency. The use of a colostomy is generally temporary and the bowel can be rejoined after six to 12 months, if health permits
- the long-term use of a mild antibiotic – this is often necessary to prevent further attacks.
Self-care suggestions
Suggestions include:
- Increase your daily intake of green vegetables. Introduce fibre gradually to avoid unpleasant symptoms such as flatulence.
- Consider using a fibre supplement (such as psyllium).
- Drink plenty of fluids to ensure your stools are soft, moist and easy to pass.
- Exercise regularly to encourage bowel function and peristalsis.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Gastroenterologist or specialist surgeon
- Dietitian – Find an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) in your areaExternal Link
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis [online], GastroNet Australia, ACT. More information here.External Link
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis [online], The Centre for Digestive Diseases – Sydney. More information here.External Link
- Diverticulitis [online], Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, USA. More information here.External Link
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:
Give feedback about this page
Was this page helpful?
More information
Content disclaimer
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Reviewed on: 31-08-2014
| Traumatic reticulitis and reticuloperitonitis – Reticulitis el reticuloperitonitis traumatica. | |||
Traumatic reticulitis and reticuloperitonitis – Reticulitis el reticuloperitonitis traumatica. Traumatic reticulitis and reticuloperitonitis – Reticulitis el reticuloperitonitis traumatica. Traumatic reticulitis – damage to the mesh wall by a foreign body with its subsequent inflammation; reticuloperitonitis – perforation of the mesh with the development of peritonitis. Most often, the disease is recorded in adult cattle, rarely in calves and, as an exception, in small cattle. Etiology . The disease occurs in animals when they swallow sharp and piercing foreign objects with food: nails, steel knitting needles, needles, pieces of steel wire, etc. This is possible in a pasture littered with metal objects, near industrial enterprises, construction sites, landfills, highways. Symptoms . Depending on which foreign body got into the mesh and where it penetrated into its wall, the perforation of which surrounding tissues and organs it caused, the clinical picture is expressed to varying degrees. In typical cases of traumatic reticuloperitonitis, when a foreign body has passed the mesh wall and caused inflammation of the peritoneum, the animals’ appetite sharply worsens or stops, chewing gum and belching disappear, general fatigue and anxiety progress, in most animals the body temperature rises by 1-1.5 °. In the first days of the disease, a pain syndrome is clearly revealed: the animals avoid fast movements and sharp turns, stand mainly with the forelimbs spread apart, when pain is provoked (pressing with a fist from below the region of the xiphoid cartilage, picking up the skin in a fold on the posterior slope of the withers or percussion on the left along the course attachment of the diaphragm), a painful reaction is clearly noticeable and anxiety is strongly expressed. The diagnosis of is made taking into account the anamnesis (the possibility of getting sharp piercing foreign objects with feed) and characteristic clinical symptoms, the main of which is the presence of pain when pressing the area of the xiphoid cartilage. A blood test establishes neutrophilic leukocytosis, a decrease in the number of eosinophils, and an increased ESR. In the urine, protein, albumoses and an increased content of indican are found. Metallic foreign bodies in the mesh can be detected by radiography (after prior fasting). Treatment. The prognosis is cautious, doubtful, and unfavorable in complicated forms of reticuloperitonitis. Radical methods of therapy are the extraction of iron-magnetic foreign objects freely lying in the mesh or stuck into its wall with an improved magnetic probe, and if it is impossible to extract the probe with a surgical intervention (rumenotomy followed by removal of foreign objects according to the method of K. A. Petrakov, 1970). Conservative treatment is effective only if the foreign body has penetrated into the mesh to the muscle layer or is small. Such treatment is also carried out in the preoperative period. In case of cardiovascular insufficiency and the development of intoxication, glucose with caffeine, hexamethylenetetramine, hypertonic solutions of sodium chloride are administered intravenously (reviews 1, 3, 157, 161). If conservative treatment does not give a positive result, and the operation cannot be performed, the animal is culled for meat. With complications of traumatic pericarditis, conservative treatment has no effect. ISO . Cow 181. Cow 182. Cow Prevention. Carry out a complex of organizational, economic and veterinary and sanitary measures aimed at cleaning pastures and farms from piercing and cutting objects. Roughage is cleaned from metal impurities manually, loose – by electromagnetic installations. Iron-magnetic foreign bodies in disadvantaged farms are recommended to be removed from the proventriculus with special magnetic probes, which can be done during medical examination. Good results are obtained by the introduction of magnetic rings into the proventriculus (strictly in accordance with the instructions), depending on their shape, size and degree of magnetism.
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Particularly dangerous are pieces of wire and steel spokes with double-sided sharp ends (thorns from snowplow brushes). During the stall period of keeping, foreign bodies can be swallowed by animals when carelessly unpacking hay or straw baled with wire, less often with silage, seiazh or mixed fodder. Ingestion of foreign bodies occurs more often when animals are greedily eating food (after a long break in feeding, in the first days of grazing and with vitamin and mineral starvation). Cattle, compared with sheep and goats, easily swallow foreign objects. This is explained by the fact that he has a low sensitivity of the oral mucosa, and the existing numerous papillae are directed towards the pharynx. It should be remembered that not all foreign bodies that have fallen into the mesh cause trauma and inflammation. In many cases, they can only be detected by special methods or after the animals have been slaughtered.
When only the mucous membrane is traumatized without perforation of the wall (reticulitis), the disease can be almost asymptomatic. In this case, appetite is sometimes reduced or perverted, chewing gum and belching become lethargic and rare, hypotension of the fore-stomach is periodically noted, but the pain syndrome of the mesh area is not pronounced.
Iron-magnetic objects are detected with specially designed metal indicators and removed with magnetic probes (according to the method of S. G. Meliksetyan or A. V. Korobov, etc.), which are used strictly in accordance with the attached instructions. In differential diagnosis, hypotension and atony of the proventriculus, traumatic pericarditis, liver disease, and poisoning are excluded.
The animal is recommended to be placed in a separate sanitary pen or stall with a sloping floor so that the front part of the body is 10-15 cm higher than the back (to reduce pressure on the diaphragm from the side of the mesh). The diet consists of traza, soft meadow hay, bran mash or ground grain. Analgin or ethyl alcohol is used to reduce pain (reviews 180, 181). With hypotension and atony of the proventriculus, laxatives, Karlovy Vary salt (rec. 182), warm enemas are indicated in small doses.
t. d. N 15 in ampullis 
When harvesting hay and straw in bales, polymer synthetic materials are used instead of wire. Explanatory work should be constantly carried out among livestock breeders about the need and ways to prevent feed injuries in cattle. TRAUMATIC RETICULITIS
TRAUMATIC RETICULITIS
TRAUMATIC RETICULITIS The disease is characterized by damage to the mesh wall with sharp objects, followed by inflammation of the injured tissues and organs. Common in cattle, rare in other ruminants. Reticulitis is divided into acute and chronic. Economic damage consists of loss of fatness and milk productivity, forced slaughter, possible death due to its complications, as well as the cost of therapeutic and preventive measures. Etiology. The disease occurs when sharp objects are swallowed along with food, which is more often the result of its greedy intake. As a rule, these are metal objects – nails, wire, needles, etc. Predisposes to the ingestion of such objects insufficiency in the diet of animals of mineral substances – calcium, phosphorus and trace elements, which is more common in pregnant and highly productive cows, as well as in growing young animals. This causes them lizuha, as a result of which it becomes possible to swallow foreign, including sharp, objects. Symptoms. The most characteristic signs of the disease are a sudden onset, decrease or cessation of appetite for no objective reasons, a decrease in the number of chewing gums, the appearance of anxiety, periodic groans, especially when straining and moving, body temperature may rise to 39.8-40.5 ° WITH. In cows, milk yield is significantly reduced. Heartbeat and breathing quicken. On the part of the digestive system, weakening and decrease in the frequency of contractions, rhythm disturbance are noted. In the chronic course of the disease, the listed symptoms are less pronounced. Traumatic reticulitis may be complicated by reticuloperitonitis, reticulohepatitis, reticulopericarditis, etc. Animals recover when objects are encapsulated in the mesh wall or when they are surgically removed. The prognosis for complicated reticulitis is doubtful or unfavorable. Treatment. There are three main ways to treat reticulitis: 1) conservative; 2) medicinal; 3) operational. The conservative method provides for the exclusion of roughage from the diet and the introduction of liquid ones into it – talkers, mucous decoctions, etc., which would excite the receptor apparatus of the pancreas, in particular the mesh, to a lesser extent. The drug method is based on the introduction of antimicrobial drugs with an increase in body temperature, in particular penicillin intramuscularly at a dose of 4000-5000 IU per 1 kg of animal weight in a 0. |
The number of contractions of the scar is reduced to 2-3 in 5 min instead of 10-12 in healthy animals.