13/11/2025
While diverticulosis is a benign problem, it can be a nuisance as the inflammation of these pouches/little balloons can lead to left sided abdominal pain, bleeding and sometimes perforation resulting in abscess formation or serious sepsis.
Diverticulitis involves inflammation of outpouchings of the intestinal wall, a condition known as diverticulosis.
By age 60 years, nearly 60% of people have diverticulosis, most often on the left side of the colon. Acute diverticulitis affects about 180 per 100 000 people in the US each year, resulting in approximately 200 000 hospitalizations annually.
This JAMA Patient Page describes diverticulitis and its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
https://ja.ma/3LD35GK