Enlarged Image for Diverticulitis

Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that develop in the wall of the large intestine (colon). Usually they are most numerous in the sigmoid colon. Many people develop diverticula (a condition called diverticulosis), especially after age 50, and in most individuals they cause no problem. However when diverticula become infected or inflamed (a condition called diverticulitis), they can cause pain, fever and nausea. In rare cases, a pouch can rupture, spilling intestinal waste into your abdomen. This is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.