ABC of colorectal diseases. Diverticular disease.

Cardinal clinical features of diverticular disease Diverticulosis: None Diverticula are acquired herniations of mucosa through the muscular wall Colicky pain of the colon.Diverticulosis indicates asymptomatic diverticular disease and Altered bowel habit diverticulitis the presence of associated inflammation.Acute diverticulitis: Diverticular disease is very common in developed countries.It is Constant pain associated with increasing age: it affects about a third ofthose over the age of Fever 65 and halfofthose over 80.In 1989 in England and Wales 1480 deaths were Nausea and vomiting attributed to complications of diverticular disease.Bleeding Altered bowel habit Localised or generalised tenderness Aetiolog and pathology < jM Diverticula are thought to arise as a pulsion phenomenon secondary to W_ raised intraluminal pressure, which weakens the bowel wall.Constipation