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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffCommon signs and symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- Pain that's often sudden, severe, and located in the lower left side of the abdomen. Less commonly, abdominal pain may be mild at first, and become worse over several days, possibly fluctuating in intensity
- Change in bowel habits
- Abdominal tenderness
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
Less common signs and symptoms of diverticulitis may include:
- Bloating
- Bleeding from your rectum
References
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- McQuaid KR, Gastrointestinal disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009. 48th ed. Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6395. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Diverticulitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec02/ch019/ch019c.html. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Young-Fadok T, et al. Epidemiology and pathophysiology of colonic diverticular disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Jacobs DO. Clinical practice: Diverticulitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;357:2057.
- Strate LL, et al. Nut, corn, and popcorn consumption and the incidence of diverticular disease. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:907.
- Fox JM, et al. Diverticular disease of the colon: Epidemiology. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/128818258-3/0/1389/861.html?tocnode=51643533&fromURL=861.html#4-u1.0-B1-4160-0245-6..50119-0_5426. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Fox JM, et al. Diverticular disease of the colon: Etiology. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/128818258-3/0/1389/863.html?tocnode=51643536&fromURL=863.html#4-u1.0-B1-4160-0245-6..50119-0--cesec3_5429. Accessed March 30, 2009.
- Picco MF (expert review). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. March 31, 2009.
