What is the treatment for diverticulitis?
When symptoms are not too severe
If you develop diverticulitis you will normally need a course of antibiotics and be encouraged to drink plenty of clear fluids. You may be advised not to eat anything until symptoms settle. You may need some strong painkillers for a while. If the infection is not too severe, then symptoms may well settle with this treatment. Once symptoms go, you can resume a normal diet but a high fibre diet (as described above) is usually best.
If symptoms are severe or prolonged
If symptoms are severe then you may need to be admitted to hospital. You may be given antibiotics and fluids directly into a vein via a 'drip'. You may need to have painkiller injections. You may also be admitted to hospital if the symptoms are not too severe, but do not settle after 48 hours or so with antibiotic tablets.
If complications develop
As mentioned earlier, some people with diverticulitis develop complications such as bowel obstruction, abscess, fistula, and peritonitis. Surgery is usually needed to treat these serious but uncommon complications. For example, surgery is sometimes needed to drain an abscess or to remove a badly infected part of the colon.
Treatment of a bleeding diverticula
As mentioned earlier, a large bleed requiring an emergency blood transfusion sometimes occurs in people with diverticula. However, the bleeding stops on its own in about 3 in 4 cases. Sometimes an operation is needed to stop the bleeding.
A final note
See a doctor if you have a change in the pattern of your toilet habit. For example, a sudden change from your normal bowel habit to persisting constipation or diarrhoea, passing blood or mucus, or new pains. Even if you are known to have diverticula, a change of symptoms may indicate a new and different gut problem. Call an ambulance urgently if you have a large amount of bleeding from the bowel.
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