Diverticulitis is a medical condition that involves the inflammation of pouches that can form in the intestines. [1] Please note that these pouches are called the diverticula. The diverticular is commonly found in the lower area of the colon (large intestine).
Diverticulitis is common, especially after 40, and it causes severe abdominal pain, nausea, and fever. This condition can occur when faeces or partly digested food blocks the opening of the diverticula.
The symptoms of diverticulitis can range from mild to severe. Besides, these symptoms could also appear suddenly or develop gradually over days. Below are ten of the possible symptoms of diverticulitis:
Pain in the Abdomen
Abdominal pain can be achy, crampy, intermittent, or sharp. [2] It’s commonly called a stomachache. Pain in the abdomen causes a significant level of discomfort. In some cases, this pain could be due to inflammation or diseases that affect the abdomen’s organs.
Examples of these organs include the kidneys, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, spleen, appendix, and intestines, as in diverticulitis.
In people with diverticulitis, they may start by feeling the pain at the lower left side of the abdomen. However, individuals may also experience some pain on the right side of the abdomen. Aside from diverticulitis, there are other possible causes of pain in the abdomen. These causes include diarrhea, constipation, and stress.
There are cases where diseases that affect the digestive system cause chronic abdominal pain. Some examples of these conditions include lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Crohn’s disease.