What is the difference between Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis?

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are related, and sometimes is confusing since the words are so close in pronunciation. Diverticulitis is a situation brought on by infection or rupture of diverticula. Diverticula are pockets created in the lower or large intestine.

The risk of forming diverticula is typically higher for people over forty. Diverticula do not cause problems on their own; however, when they become infected, there are problems. Diverticulosis, on the other hand, is when there is a presence of many diverticula in the colon. This condition may be a result of not consuming enough fiber. It becomes far more common as the person moves up in age.

Some of the symptoms of diverticulitis include severe pain that lasts days, and it occurs in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, constipation, or diarrhea, and abdominal tenderness. Many patients with diverticulosis do not demonstrate any symptoms until it becomes diverticulitis.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis are conditions that deal with the colon. The difference between them is the extension of the condition. Diverticulosis is when there are pockets in a person's colon. It is just the presence of the condition. Diverticulitis expands from just the presence and is actually an infection in the colon. Another difference between them is in regards to the symptoms that will occur. With Diverticulosis, it is normally asymptomatic, meaning the person will not experience any symptoms. With Diverticulitis, a person will have a number of symptoms such as fever and nausea. This will require antibiotics to treat, while Diverticulosis is not treated.