What is the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

• A. Diverticulosis is inflammation; diverticulitis is asymptomatic.
• B. Diverticulosis involves outpouchings without inflammation; diverticulitis involves inflammation or infection of diverticula.
• C. Diverticulitis is asymptomatic; diverticulosis requires antibiotics.
• D. Diverticulosis is malignant.

Answer: (B)

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis differ by whether the diverticula are inflamed or infected.

Diverticulosis means there are diverticula (outpouchings) in the colon, but there is no inflammation or infection. Most people are asymptomatic or have only mild, nonspecific symptoms, and it’s often found incidentally.

Diverticulitis means those diverticula become inflamed, often with infection. This presents with acute abdominal pain (usually in the lower left quadrant), fever, and sometimes nausea or leukocytosis. Imaging may show inflamed diverticula and changes around the colon.

So the best distinction is: diverticulosis involves outpouchings without inflammation; diverticulitis involves inflammation or infection of those diverticula.