Complications
Infection of a diverticulum can result in diverticulitis. This occurs in 10%-25% of people with diverticulosis (NIDDK website). Tears in the colon leading to bleeding or perforations may occur; intestinal obstruction may occur (constipation or diarrhea does not rule this possibility out); and peritonitis, abscess formation, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sepsis, and fistula formation are also possible occurrences. Rarely, an enterolith may form.
Low fiber, high fat diet, constipation and use of stimulant laxatives increase the risk of bleeding, also history of diverticulitis increases the chance to bleed.
Infection of a diverticulum often occurs as a result of stool collecting in a diverticulum.
More than 10% of the U.S. population over the age of 40 and 50% over the age of 60 has diverticulosis. This disease is common in the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada, and is uncommon in Asia and Africa. Large-mouth diverticula are associated with scleroderma.
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