About the disease

Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital condition, when a baby is born with diverticulum in his/her intestines. Overall, diverticulum is a hollow structure which can develop in the body. In case of Meckel's diverticulum, it develops in the intestines already during prenatal development of a child. According to Healthline, children develop Meckel's diverticulum between the 5th and the 7th weeks of their development. Meckel's diverticulum mostly develops from the intestinal cells. If the diverticulum functions as a part of an intestine, a child may not have any symptoms at all and the intestine will function as it is supposed to as in such case the diverticulum will consist of the same cells as all the intestines consist of. In rare cases, which, according to Healthline happens only in 5% of all cases, the cells of Meckel's diverticulum may be pancreatic or stomach. In such case Meckel's diverticulum will be different from the rest of intestines and, subsequently, it will function in a different way.

As a result, there can be intestinal bleeding or blockage of one of the intestines, which are the most serious complications of Meckel's diverticulum. This condition can also lead to inflammation, which, in turn, can lead to such symptoms as general discomfort in abdominal area and also vomiting in some cases.

If Meckel's diverticulum manifests itself in any symptoms, this condition is usually diagnosed and treated by the time child is 10 years old. In some cases manifestation may begin only in adulthood and then symptoms may be so sporadic and inconsistent that it may take a long time to determine that a person has Meckel's diverticulum. Nonetheless, Meckel's diverticulum is almost never life-threatening and, upon finding this condition, it is easy to treat it.

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the stool
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fatigue

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will ask if a person has blood in the stool and discomfort in the abdominal area. He will also palpate the area with intestines to determine which part is painful.
• Blood test and stool test are both used to determine if there is an intestinal bleeding which can indicate Meckel's diverticulum. A blood test can rule out other conditions which can cause similar symptoms such as anemia.
• Imaging tests, such as colonoscopy and endoscopy, are used to examine the intestines and determine if a person has Meckel's diverticulum. A technetium scan is also very useful to determine if a person has a pouch.

Treatment

• Surgical resection of diverticulum with anastomosis is a surgery used to remove the diverticulum and thus stop/prevent the bleeding in the intestines. If any of the intestines had been affected by diverticulum, they may need to be removed as well. After that, healthy intestines are connected to function normally.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed