Diverticulitis

Alternative names:

diverticula; diverticulosis

Symptoms:

• left lower abdominal pain
• constipation or diarrhea may occur
• chills
• fever

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• swallowing difficulty
• stools, clay colored
• stools, bloody
• nausea and vomiting
• heartburn
• cough
• breath odor

Signs and tests:

• tests showing diverticulitis:
  • colonoscopy
  • sigmoidoscopy
  • barium enema

• rectal examination showing bleeding
• abdominal palpation showing left lower quadrant mass
• stool hemoccult test revealing blood

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• voiding cystourethrogram
• upper GI and small bowel series
• stool guaiac
• laparotomy Exploratory
• EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
• cystoscopy
• cystography, retrograde
• CEA
• bladder biopsy