what is the difference in diverticulitis and diverticulosis
Many times, people will say they have diverticulitis,a dangerous condition, when they have the more benign and common diverticulosis. Diverticulitis is a serious infection and inflammation of the bowel wall. It requires treatment with antibiotics, and often leads to hospitalization and surgery. People with diverticulosis have large intestinal pockets called diverticula.
Two medical terms that are confused by patients with diverticular disease are diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Although they sound the same, they have distinct meanings. Diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is the condition that occurs before a patient gets diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis is the condition that occurs when these pouches become infected or inflamed. Many times food can become trapped in these pockets making wonderful breeding ground for bacteria. This only occurs in about 10 to 25 % of people with diverticulosis. The first and most common symptom of diverticulitis is severe abdominal pain, and a common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen.