What should you know about diverticulitis is dangerous?

Inflamed bowel pouches may cause abdominal pain, tenderness, fever, nausea or altered bowel habits. In a more serious episode, infection can spread around the bowel, a collection of infected fluid can form, or the bowel wall can leak. These complications cannot be diagnosed safely from symptoms alone. [Diverticular Disease](/conditions/diverticular-disease/) may also cause symptoms without active inflammation, so assessment matters.

Contact a clinician promptly for new pain that persists or worsens. A [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) can help decide whether examination, blood tests or imaging is appropriate. Follow prescribed treatment, keep drinking if you are able, and do not use someone else’s antibiotics. Avoid forcing food if eating increases pain, but seek advice if you cannot maintain fluids. A dietitian or [Nutrition Counselling](/treatments/lifestyle-and-wellness/nutrition-counselling/) may help during recovery.

Go to urgent care for severe or sudden abdominal pain, a rigid or increasingly swollen abdomen, persistent vomiting, inability to pass stool or gas with swelling, fainting, confusion, significant rectal bleeding or fever with worsening weakness. Call emergency services if you collapse, become difficult to wake or have severe breathing difficulty. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or confused.

Ask how severe the episode appears, which warning signs should bring you back, whether you need imaging, and how to manage fluids and pain. Tell the clinician about [Abdominal Pain](/symptoms/abdominal-pain/) severity, vomiting, bleeding and any [Constipation](/symptoms/constipation/).