A sudden (acute) bout of diverticulitis can cause symptoms that resemble those of other conditions. Your doctor will do a physical exam and may do tests to find out whether diverticulitis is the cause of your symptoms.

Symptoms of diverticulitis can be similar to those of:

• Inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis).
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
• Blockage in the colon (bowel obstruction).
• Perforation by a foreign body, such as a toothpick or a fish bone.
• Trauma to the rectum.
• Colon cancer.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Urinary tract infection.