Which condition is inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula in the colon?

• A. Diverticulitis
• B. Diverticulosis
• C. Enteritis
• D. IBS

Answer: (A)

Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of one or more diverticula in the colon. Diverticula are small pouches that can form in the colon wall; when they become irritated or infected, the lining inflames, causing localized abdominal pain (often in the lower left quadrant) with fever and sometimes elevated white blood cell count. This differs from diverticulosis, which is simply the presence of diverticula without inflammation and often has no symptoms. Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine, not the colon’s diverticula, and IBS is a functional disorder with chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits but no inflammation. So the description points to diverticulitis.