A Rare Case of Terminal Ileal Diverticulitis: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management

Diverticulitis is an acute inflammatory condition that typically affects the colon. Diverticulitis of the ileum is rare, with most cases reported in the terminal ileum, and is often triggered by an underlying infection, obstruction, or ischemia. Clinically, ileal diverticulitis presents with symptoms similar to colonic diverticulitis, such as abdominal pain, fever, and constipation. Symptoms can also mimic other conditions, including Crohn's disease and appendicitis. Thus, diagnosis is difficult and often delayed, leading to abscess, fistula formation, and acute abdomen. Diagnosing ileal diverticulitis requires a high clinical suspicion, which is depicted in this case of terminal ileal diverticulitis complicated by sepsis and the patient's underlying medical comorbidities.