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Peritonitis: Symptoms, Treatments, Types, and...

WebMD Home Digestive Disorders Health Center
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Peritonitis
In this article

Symptoms of Peritonitis
Causes of Peritonitis

Diagnosis of Peritonitis

Treatments for Peritonitis

Preventing Peritonitis

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inner wall of the
abdomen and covers and supports most of your abdominal organs. Peritonitis is usually caused
by infection from bacteria or fungi.

Left untreated, peritonitis can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and to other organs, resulting
in multiple organ failure and death. So if you develop any of the symptoms of peritonitis -- the
most common of which is severe abdominal pain -- it's essential to seek prompt medical
evaluation and treatment that can prevent potentially fatal complications.

Symptoms of Peritonitis
The first symptoms of peritonitis are typically poor appetite and nausea and a dull abdominal
ache that quickly turns into persistent, severe abdominal pain, which is worsened by any
movement.
Other signs and symptoms related to peritonitis may include:

Abdominal tenderness or distention

Chills

Fever

Fluid in the abdomen

Extreme thirst

Not passing any urine, or passing significantly less urine than usual

Difficulty passing gas or having a bowel movement

Vomiting

Causes of Peritonitis
The two main types of peritonitis are primary spontaneous peritonitis, an infection that develops
in the peritoneum; and secondary peritonitis, which usually develops when an injury or infection
in the abdominal cavity allows infectious organisms into the peritoneum. Both types of
peritonitis are life-threatening. The death rate from peritonitis depends on many factors, but can
be as high as 40% in those who also have cirrhosis. As many as 10% may die from secondary
peritonitis.
The most common risk factors for primary spontaneous peritonitis include:
Liver disease with cirrhosis . Such disease often causes a buildup of abdominal fluid (ascites)
that can become infected.
Kidney failure getting peritoneal dialysis. This technique, which involves the implantation of a
catheter into the peritoneum, is used to remove waste products in the blood of people with
kidney failure. It's linked to a higher risk of peritonitis due to accidental contamination of the
peritoneum by way of the catheter.
Common causes of secondary peritonitis include:

A ruptured appendix, diverticulum, or stomach ulcer

Digestive diseases such as Crohn's disease and diverticulitis

Pancreatitis

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Perforations of the stomach, intestine, gallbladder, or appendix

Surgery

Trauma to the abdomen, such as an injury from a knife or gunshot wound

Noninfectious causes of peritonitis include irritants such as bile, blood, or foreign substances in
the abdomen, such as barium.
1|2|3
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