Diverticulitis and Antibiotic Use: Balancing Benefits and Risks

Dr. Nsikak Umoh, at the Texas Colon and Pilonidal Clinic, serving Cypress and The Woodlands, TX, focuses on diverticulitis and other colon, rectal, and anal diseases, providing the highest level of care to every patient.   

What Is Diverticulitis?

 Diverticulitis or diverticular disease is a condition affecting the colon, causing abdominal pain. As we age, the colon may develop small sacs that push outward in weak areas of the colon, a condition called diverticulosis. The inflammation of these sacs is called diverticulitis.

The symptoms of diverticulitis are unpleasant and include:

• Abdominal pain, especially after eating.
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Blood in your stool or bleeding from your rectum
• High temperature
• Bloating

 This digestive disease has similar symptoms to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is why we suggest screening if you start to experience these symptoms. 

How Is Diverticulitis Treated?

 The exact cause of diverticulitis is unknown, but patients who have diverticulosis are often advised to stay away from foods that contain small seeds like tomatoes and strawberries and increase their intake of high-fiber foods. 

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, patients usually need to take long-term steps to manage this disease and prevent future flare-ups by implementing healthy lifestyle practices including exercise, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.  

Dr. Umoh, at the Texas Colon and Pilonidal Clinic serving Cypress and The Woodlands, TX, may also recommend pre-and probiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and antibiotics to control infection. 

In severe cases, hospitalization and surgery may be required, using minimally invasive techniques.

What Are the Benefits and Risks of Using Antibiotics to Treat Diverticulitis?

 Antibiotics are often prescribed for uncomplicated cases of diverticulitis as this condition was previously considered to be a bacterial infection. More recently, diverticulitis has been viewed as inflammatory rather than infectious, and in certain cases, therapeutic interventions instead of antibiotics are used. 

Currently, the benefits of using antibiotics for diverticulitis are thought to be a more rapid recovery, a decreased chance of needing surgical intervention, and prevention of further complications.

Conversely, when using antibiotics to treat diverticulitis, there is a risk of an allergic reaction, microbial resistance, and/or a toxic megacolon which can cause mortality. 

For this reason, we strongly recommend that you visit a specialist like Dr. Umoh, who is at the forefront of his field and vastly experienced in treating patients with uncomplicated and complicated diverticular disease. 

Contact Us!

For superior colorectal care, Dr. Umoh should be your first choice. To find out more about antibiotic use for diverticulitis in the Cypress and The Woodlands, TX, area, call our team now at (832) 663 0037 to schedule a consultation.