Is diverticulosis the same thing as diverticulitis?
I just had a colonoscopy and my doctor said I had diverticulosis. Is that the same thing as diverticulitis?
Diverticulosis refers to small pockets/pouches in the colon. They are very commonly found during colonoscopy. They do not cause symptoms, but if they become infected that condition is called diverticulitis. Common symptoms of diverticulitis include fever, pain in the left lower abdomen and diarrhea. It is typically treated with antibiotics, but if it becomes recurrent, sometimes surgery is required to remove the affected part of the colon. Those with diverticulosis are recommended to adhere to a high fiber diet (25-30 grams of fiber per day).