The human intestine is a long organ that is split into two portions for convenience of diagnosis: the small intestines and then the large bowel or colon. Diverticulosis is defined by tiny pouches emerging from the colon’s wall.
Diverticulitis is a condition that occurs as a result of an infection. Diverticulitis is more severe than other types of diverticulitis because the infection can progress to additional complications.
Key Takeaways
- Diverticulosis is the formation of small pouches in the colon, while diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of these pouches.
- Diverticulosis causes no symptoms, but diverticulitis can result in abdominal pain, fever, and changes in bowel habits.
- Treatment for diverticulosis focuses on preventing complications, whereas diverticulitis requires antibiotics or surgery in severe cases.
Diverticulosis vs Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis is a medical condition in which the colon has diverticula, which are numerous pouches that are not inflamed. Diverticulitis is also known as colonic diverticulitis and is a gastrointestinal illness that is noticeable by inflammation of aberrant pouches forming on the large intestine wall.
Diverticulosis is a condition in which the colon has numerous pouches (diverticula) that are not inflamed.
Outpockets of the colonic mucosa and submucosa are produced by muscle layer defects in the colon wall and can be exacerbated by a low-fibre diet that alters the microbiota and induces low-grade inflammation.
Diverticulitis, particularly colonic diverticulitis, is a gastrointestinal illness marked by inflammation of aberrant pouches (diverticula) that can form in the large intestine wall.
Lower abdomen discomfort with a rapid onset is common, although it can gradually develop over several days. It might create a lot of pain in your stomach.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Diverticulosis | Diverticulitis |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Diverticulosis is characterized by tiny pouches emerging from the colon’s wall. | Diverticulitis is a gastrointestinal condition marked by the inflammation of aberrant pouches (diverticula) that can form in the large intestine’s wall. |
| Symptoms | cramping, bloating, flatulence, and irregular defecation. | abdominal pain of sudden onset, have elevated C-reactive protein, and a high white blood cell count. |
| Location | The lining of the intestine | Lower abdomen |
| Diagnosis | Clinical blood tests; serum iron concentrations, OZHSS, average haemoglobin content in erythrocytes; faecal occult blood analysis; general urine analysis | Blood test and urine test, Medical history analysis, Physical examination, Colonoscopy, CT scan, Lower GI series |
| Causes | Pressure builds in your colon and pushes on the lining when you experience muscular spasms or strain (as when you have a bowel movement). | Low-fibre diets increase pressure on the colon to force stool out, causing stool materials to lodge in the diverticula, leading to infection. |
| Risk factors | Due to excessive obesity, Excessive consumption of fat and red meat, cigarette smoking. | Obesity, smoking, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) |
| Risk of cancer | High risk of cancer | Minor risk of cancer |
What is Diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis is most commonly found in the sigmoid colon, which is prone to high pressure. In the United States, the left side of the colon is more often afflicted, but in Asia, the right side is more commonly affected.
The diagnosis is frequently made during a regular colonoscopy or as a result of an unintentional discovery during a CT scan.
Diverticular illness can cause painless rectal bleeding that appears as bright red blood in the rectum. Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding is most commonly caused by diverticular bleeding.
However, it is believed that 80% of these instances are self-limiting and do not require treatment.
Although the low-fibre explanation of diverticulosis is the most popular, it has yet to be proved, according to the National Institutes of Health in the United States.
Diverticulosis is not an issue in and of itself, as the pouches are innocuous and seldom produce symptoms.
Many people who have diverticulosis have little or no symptoms and may not require therapy. Colonic stimulants should be avoided if at all possible.
Treatments that induce hard stools, constipation, or straining, such as certain colon cleaners, are not suggested.
What is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is more severe than other types of diverticulitis because the infection can progress to additional complications. In around 1 out of every 5 to 1 out of every 7 instances of diverticulosis, diverticulitis develops.
Diverticulitis can have a variety of reasons. Obesity, inactivity, smoking, a family history of the illness, and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are all potential risk factors (NSAIDs).
It’s uncertain if a low-fibre diet is a risk factor. Diverticulosis is a condition in which pouches in the large intestine aren’t inflamed.
Inflammation, which is caused by a bacterial infection, affects 10% to 25% of people at some point in their lives.
CT scans are commonly used to diagnose the condition, although blood tests, colonoscopies, and a lower gastrointestinal series may also be helpful. Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the many possibilities.
Diverticulitis is caused by a combination of genes and environmental factors, with around 40% of cases attributable to genes and 60% due to environmental factors.
Arterial hypertension and immunosuppression are two conditions that enhance the likelihood of developing diverticulitis. Another risk factor is obesity. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased incidence of diverticulitis.
Main Differences Between Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
- Diverticulosis is characterized by tiny pouches emerging from the colon’s wall, whereas, Diverticulitis is a gastrointestinal condition marked by the inflammation of aberrant pouches (diverticula) that can form in the large intestine’s wall.
- The symptoms of Diverticulosis are cramping, bloating, flatulence, and irregular defecation, whereas the symptoms of Diverticulitis are abdominal pain of sudden onset, elevated C-reactive protein, and a high white blood cell count.
- Diverticulosis occurs in the lining of the intestine, while Diverticulitis occurs in the lower abdomen.
- In Diverticulosis, the risk of cancer is high, whereas in Diverticulitis. The risk of cancer is minor.
- Pressure builds in your colon and pushes on the lining when you experience muscular spasms or strain (as when you have a bowel movement), causing Diverticulosis, whereas Low-fiber diets increase pressure on the colon to force stool out, causing stool materials to lodge in the diverticula, leading to infection causes Diverticulitis.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulosis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulitis
- https://iffgd.org/gi-disorders/diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis/
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
