Diverticulitis occurs when you have weak areas or pouches in the wall of your large intestine and the pouches become inflamed. These pouches are called diverticula. They look somewhat like small thumbs poking out of the side of the bowel. They most commonly occur in the colon. The presence of diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis.
Inflammation occurs when diverticula become blocked with stool.
Rarely, perforation may lead to peritonitis, which is inflammation of the lining of the abdomen, a potentially serious condition. The doctor will review your symptoms and examine you. For uncomplicated diverticulosis, the doctor may recommend a high-fiber diet and possibly use of stool softeners. For an attack of acute diverticulitis, you will probably be hospitalized. In most cases requiring surgery, the diseased section of the intestine is removed and the remaining sections are joined together.