Description
Diverticular disease of the colon (DD) is common
in western industrialized countries. Diet and life style
are considered to be the main contributing factors for the
development of the disease. It has been suggested that low
fibre intake promotes diverticular formation and alters the
intestinal flora, so transforming asymptomatic diverticular
disease into diverticulitis. DD may be asymptomatic,
symptomatic, uncomplicated diverticulitis or complicated
diverticulitis. Treatment depends on clinical presentation.
This paper is a review of the epidemiology, natural history
and medical treatment of diverticular disease, emphasizing
the use of non-absorbable antibiotics and the recent advent
of mesalazine and probiotics for the management of DD
patients.
