Digestive Health More Digestive Diseases Diverticulitis Guide Diverticulitis Guide Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Signs and Symptoms of Diverticulitis By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 15, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Frequent Rare Complications When to Seek Care Frequently Asked Questions Next in Diverticulitis Guide What Causes Diverticulitis? Diverticula are small pockets that form in your colon where the wall of this part of your digestive tract has become weak. They cause no symptoms but occasionally become infected and/or inflamed. This is a condition called diverticulitis. The most common diverticulitis symptom is stomach pain on the left side, but it can also cause a change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea), fever, and nausea or vomiting. Even with symptoms, most cases of diverticulitis can be treated at home. However, a 2018 study suggests about 25% of people will experience complications, many of them requiring treatment in hospital. Verywell Frequent Symptoms of Diverticulitis Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of diverticulitis. It is often chronic and can go on for several days. In most cases, the diverticula form in the last part of the large intestine, which is called the sigmoid colon. It is located on the left side of the abdomen, which is why diverticulitis may lead to feeling stomach pain on your left side. In some cases, people may have pain on the right or on both sides of the abdomen. This may occur if there are diverticula in other parts of the colon. The pain is located in the lower part of the abdomen and is not felt higher up, like under the ribs, as is the case with some other digestive conditions. Apart from stomach pain on your left side, often after eating, common symptoms of diverticulitis can include: Chills Constipation Cramping Bloating Diarrhea (occasionally) Gas Fever Lack of appetite Nausea Vomiting Rare Symptoms of Diverticulitis Bleeding with diverticulitis isn’t common but can occur in some cases. If there are complications from the diverticulitis, such as a fistula, abscess, or bowel perforation, there can be other symptoms caused by those conditions. Symptoms of diverticulitis that are less common can include: Bladder irritation or urinary symptoms Blood in the stool Rectal bleeding Complications While they are not common, there are several different complications that may occur along with diverticulitis. Abscess An abscess is a bacterial infection that causes a pocket of blood and pus to form. Abscesses associated with diverticulitis may cause fever and abdominal pain. They are treated with antibiotics and/or drainage. Fistula A fistula is a tunnel that forms in the body and connects either two organs or an organ and the skin. Symptoms of a fistula (which depends on location) can include a break in the skin, swelling, pain, passing air while urinating, passing stool through the vagina, a visible skin break, or drainage from the area. A fistula may be treated with surgery or with the use of a seton, which is a thread that is gradually tightened until the fistula is closed. Bowel Obstruction A bowel obstruction is a blockage in the intestine which prevents the passage of stool. When diverticulitis leads to a bowel obstruction the symptoms can include: Abdominal painDistention (swelling) and bloatingConstipationDiarrheaThin stoolsNauseaVomiting An obstruction might be treated in the hospital through the use of a nasogastric (NG) tube, or in some cases may require surgery. Perforation A perforation is a hole in the colon. It is a serious condition that requires treatment immediately in order to prevent complications such as peritonitis, which is a potentially fatal infection. The symptoms of a perforation can include severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, bleeding from the rectum, and nausea and vomiting. When to Worry About Leftside Pain Diverticulitis can be managed at home, but the symptoms always require an evaluation from a healthcare provider and direction for treatment at home or in the hospital. Abdominal pain should prompt a call to your healthcare provider. When it is severe, and you also experience other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and rectal bleeding, it is a reason to go to the emergency department right away or even to call 911. Diverticulitis Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. A Word From Verywell In most cases diverticulitis is uncomplicated, but severe symptoms raise concern over complications that can be serious and life-threatening. Even if diverticulitis symptoms are thought to be a flare-up because it has happened before, call your healthcare provider. Frequently Asked Questions What's the difference between diverticulitis and diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is when small pockets, or pouches, form on the inside of your colon where its walls have become weaker. Diverticulitis is a condition that occurs when these pockets become infected or inflamed. Learn More: Diverticulosis vs. Diverticulitis What foods should I avoid if I have diverticulitis? Foods that may aggravate diverticulitis or cause a flare-up include red meat and refined grains. Research suggests alcohol use is associated with the risk of bleeding from diverticulitis, but not with many of its complications. Learn More: What to Eat When You Have Diverticulitis Will diverticulitis symptoms return if I've had them before? It's possible. Recurrence of acute diverticulitis within 10 years will happen in 8% to 36% of cases. Lifestyle changes, medication, and careful monitoring by your healthcare provider can help prevent this. Learn More: Signs of a Diverticulitis Flare-Up and How to Manage It What else can cause symptoms of diverticulitis? There are other medical conditions that can be mistaken for diverticulitis because of similar symptoms. These conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis, and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation). Learn More: More Digestive Diseases Can diverticulitis go away on its own? It can. Many people with uncomplicated diverticulitis will see their symptoms go away in about a week. It's still important that you speak to a healthcare provider so they can diagnosis the severity of your case and discuss treatment with you. What Causes Diverticulitis? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Diverticular Diseases. Imaeda H, Hibi T. The burden of diverticular disease and its complications: West versus east. Inflamm Intest Dis. 2018;3(2):61-68. doi:10.1159/000492178 Onur MR, Akpinar E, Karaosmanoglu AD, Isayev C, Karcaaltincaba M. Diverticulitis: a comprehensive review with usual and unusual complications. Insights Imaging. 2017;8(1):19-27. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0532-3 Carabotti M, Falangone F, Cuomo R, Annibale B. Role of Dietary Habits in the Prevention of Diverticular Disease Complications: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021 Apr 14;13(4):1288. doi:10.3390/nu13041288 Qaseem A, Etxeandia-Ikobaltzeta I, Lin JS, Fitterman N, Shamliyan T, Wilt TJ, et al. Colonoscopy for Diagnostic Evaluation and Interventions to Prevent Recurrence After Acute Left-Sided Colonic Diverticulitis: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2022 Mar;175(3):416-431. doi:10.7326/M21-2711 Pulzato I, Boero E, Shaipi E, Cardinale L. "Sigmoid diverticulitis mimicking cholecystitis" a clinical challenge. Ultrasound J. 2019 Jun 11;11(1):14. doi:10.1186/s13089-019-0127-6. National Institutes of Health. Diverticular disease and diverticulitis: Treating acute diverticulitis. Additional Reading Ansari P. Intra-Abdominal Abscesses. Merck Manual Professional Edition. Baum JA. Colonic Diverticulitis. Merck Manual Professional Edition.