Diverticulitis is a common digestive condition that affects the large intestine. It involves the inflammation or infection of small pouches that can form in the colon wall. Understanding this condition begins with clarifying its nature and the factors that contribute to its development.
Is Diverticulitis Contagious?
Diverticulitis is not contagious. It cannot spread from person to person through direct contact, respiratory droplets, or contaminated surfaces. It is an internal digestive disorder, not caused by a transmissible infectious agent.
Inflammation arises from issues within the colon, not from an external pathogen. While bacteria can contribute to inflammation, they are typically normal gut flora or opportunistic infections, not agents spread between people. Concerns about catching diverticulitis are unfounded.
What is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of diverticula, small bulging pouches in the digestive tract lining. These pouches typically form in the large intestine (colon). Their presence without inflammation is called diverticulosis, common as people age and often asymptomatic.
Diverticula develop when inner colon layers push through weak spots in outer muscular layers. When one or more pouches become inflamed or infected, it progresses to diverticulitis. Inflammation can be triggered if stool or bacteria get trapped, or if the pouch is damaged. The body’s immune response leads to symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, and changes in bowel habits.
Factors Contributing to Diverticulitis
Several factors contribute to diverticulitis, stemming from internal bodily processes and lifestyle. Age is a significant factor, with diverticulitis more common in individuals over 50. As the colon ages, its walls weaken, making diverticula formation more likely.
Diet plays a substantial role, particularly a long-term low-fiber diet. Fiber softens stool and facilitates movement, reducing pressure on intestinal walls. Diets high in red meat and saturated fats are also linked to increased risk. Lifestyle choices also contribute, including lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle, which can slow bowel movements and increase colon pressure. Obesity and smoking, which impairs colon blood supply, are additional risk factors.
Genetics may also influence susceptibility, with studies suggesting 40-53% of individual disease susceptibility is genetic. While exact genes are still investigated, variations related to inflammation and connective tissue are thought to play a role. Certain medications, such as NSAIDs, opioids, and steroids, have also been linked to increased risk. These factors collectively underscore that diverticulitis arises from physiological changes and modifiable behaviors, not external contagion.