1 Types of the disease

The pathology of the intestine, which is characterized by the appearance of sacs formed by the intestinal mucosa, while they bulge through the shell of the intestine and are called diverticula. While there is no inflammation of these pouches, a person may not know about the development of this pathology, since its symptoms do not manifest. When the pouches become inflamed, they begin to bleed.

Diverticula can form in both single and plural numbers.

In the stomach, esophagus, single pouches appear most often, and in the large intestine they are most often formed in the plural.

Depending on the types of diverticula, the following types of this disease are distinguished:

1. Depending on the layers involved.

If a false diverticulosis is formed, then diverticula are formed only in the intestinal mucosa. If they begin to form in the muscle layer, then a true diverticulosis develops.

2. Depending on the origin.

He may be congenital or acquired. In some people, diverticula can form during the intrauterine development, so this pathology is inherent in them.

False diverticula formed throughout the life of a person from the effects of various factors, the symptoms of these pathologies for a long time can not be manifested.

3. By place of occurrence.

Depending on the place of origin, there are differences in this pathology. Diverticula can occur in the esophagus, duodenum, small or large intestine.

4. On the mechanism of education.

If a person has a genetic predisposition or if there is mechanical pressure on the intestine, this can lead to the formation of pulsational diverticula.

If the mechanical effect on the intestines is outside and for a long time, then tractional diverticula are formed, most often this occurs in the formation of adhesions.

If pulsational diverticula are usually in the form of a sac and they are large, then the traction diverticles are similar to a funnel and have a smaller size. If diverticulosis is diagnosed, the causes of its development are associated with weakening of the muscles of the intestinal wall and due to malfunctions of its motility.

2 The main symptoms of

Very often, the symptoms of this disease do not appear, therefore approximately 70-75% of all cases, this pathology is detected by chance, when conducting routine x-ray examinations. Signs of manifestation of this pathology will depend on the presence of complications, the length of the formation of diverticula, the place where they were formed, much depends on the age of the patient and on whether the diet prescribed by the doctor is observed.

In some cases, patients self-report complaints in the form of a disorder of the stool, when chronic constipation occurs and painful pains appear. These signs may indicate the development of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

If diverticulums contain incompletely digested food for a long time, this often leads to the development of inflammation and bleeding may begin.

In most such cases, doctors diagnose an uncomplicated form of diverticulosis. Symptoms of this pathology are nonspecific, and therefore, when patients turn to doctors, often not very qualified doctors diagnose them with dysbiosis, violation of microflora, intestinal dyskinesia and others.

The main signs of uncomplicated diverticulosis:

1. Periodically, pain in the abdomen or in the navel region can occur, it can be a sudden pulsating or adrift. This is due to the fact that in the lumen of the intestine the pressure rises and his motor skills are disrupted. Most often, the pain appears after eating, relief comes from gas evacuation or act of defecation.
2. Frequent occurrence of flatulence.
3. Prolonged constipation, followed by diarrhea, lasting several days.
4. Often during mucus appears mucus.
5. False urges, followed by diarrhea.
6. After the act of defecation, there is no sense of relief.

During the examination of the doctor, a severe bloating is detected, palpation of the intestinal region is painful. With the help of a palpation, an experienced doctor can determine that part of the intestine where the diverticulum has occurred.

When complications appear, the corresponding symptoms appear, pain increases, feces can appear blood streaks, up to 39-40 degrees the body temperature rises.

3 Diagnosis

If an uncomplicated form of diverticulosis has been diagnosed, then the next step is to perform laboratory tests, they are necessary to identify other symptomatic pathologies.

In such cases, a general blood test is mandatory. The presence of inflammation will indicate increased ESR and a large number of white blood cells. If there is a decrease in hemoglobin, this may indicate the development of bleeding.

Urinalysis is done to exclude the presence of an inflammatory process in the urinary system. If there are complications, then in the urine can be found leukocytes, red blood cells, intestinal bacteria.

Conducting the analysis of feces helps to determine the content of hidden blood in them. If it is, then it indicates both bleeding and a small perforation.

To see the formation of bags, it is sufficient to conduct an X-ray examination. The areas where the diverticula was formed will be narrowed and have a deformed shape.

Such a study, like a colonoscopy, is prescribed to exclude such symptom-like diseases as colitis or oncological tumors of the intestine.

If the course of diverticulosis becomes complicated, then holding the X-ray of the abdominal cavity allows to detect the presence of air in it, when its obstruction or perforation occurs.

If symptoms are mild, then an empirical treatment can be performed before the X-ray examination. If treatment of diverticulosis for 7-12 days did not bring a positive result, then to confirm the diagnosis, an irrigoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is prescribed. If the acute stage of the disease, then it is impossible to conduct irrigoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, since there is a great danger of perforation of the intestinal walls.

If empiric treatment for 2-4 days does not bring results, or the disease passes in complex form, abdominal imaging is used to exclude the presence of an abscess.

4 Treatment measures

Diverticulosis can be treated with medication or with surgical intervention. The use of drugs is aimed at the restoration of motor skills, the removal of discomfort. If there are life-threatening complications or medical treatment is ineffective, surgical therapy is performed.

If the form of the disease is asymptomatic, then special therapeutic measures are not required. In general, you must follow a diet, while taking very little or excluding foods containing a lot of coarse fiber.

We must try not to use products that cause the formation of gases, to exclude products with coarse fibers. It is not recommended to eat nuts and seeds, as they often end up in diverticula and are delayed, which causes inflammation.

With a manifest form, the diet is supplemented by taking medications. For anesthesia, antispasmodics are used( No-shpa, Riabal), if there are problems with digestion, enzymatic preparations are used( Festal, Mezim), if increased gas production is prescribed by Espumizan.

To restore the intestinal microflora appoint Lineks. If you have frequent constipation, you need to consume a lot of liquid, sea cabbage. With diarrhea, they struggle with Loperamide, Imodium.

In case of acute illness it is necessary to follow a diet, take liquid dishes, infusions of herbs, kissels. For the removal of inflammation, antibiotics, such as Metronidazole and Sulfanilamides, are prescribed, the course of such treatment is not less than 10 days.

If there is a danger to human life with the emergence of infiltration, which can lead to the development of the tumor or with recurring frequent pain, surgical treatment is carried out, which is aimed at restoring the normal operation of the intestine.

5 Features of dietary nutrition

When you follow a diet, you should regularly eat more foods, which contain a lot of fiber: fruits, vegetables, products from wholemeal flour. To introduce them into the diet should be gradually, for several months.

It is necessary to refuse from reception of the refined food in the form of products from a flour of a premium, sugar, semifinished items. A day must drink a lot of liquid, at least 2 liters.

If constipation often occurs, it is better not to fight with medication, but with natural products: plums, dried apricots, infusion of Senna and others.

From the diet it is necessary to exclude chocolate, whole milk, alcoholic beverages, it is necessary to increase the amount of natural sour-milk products, the salad should be filled only with vegetable oil.

Modern man moves little, often overeats, consumes a lot of alcoholic beverages, his diet contains many semi-finished products and artificial products, all this often leads to the development of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, including diverticulosis of the intestine.

To prevent this, you need to devote your free time to practicing gymnastics or other active sport, eating healthy food and not passing it on. Adhering to such simple and accessible rules, you can avoid the development of most diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.