acute diverticulitis, a sudden, severe, and painful disorder of the large intestine, resulting from inflammation of one or more diverticula, or small pouches, in the wall of the bowel. The condition is typically diagnosed through x-rays and treated with antibiotics and/or surgically. If left untreated, the inflamed pouches may rupture, spilling fecal matter into the abdominal cavity and causing peritonitis.
