Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum The peritoneum is a tissue-like membrane that covers the inner surface of the abdominal cavity and organs Peritonitis is mainly caused by viral or bacterial causes Peritonitis may be caused by rupture of the membranes - perforation, or may be a complication of another medical condition.
Peritonitis requires immediate medical attention to treat the infection and rule out other underlying causes. Treatment mainly includes antibiotic therapy and in some cases surgical intervention Left untreated, peritonitis causes a severe, potentially life-threatening infection throughout the body
If you are receiving peritoneal dialysis therapy, you may be able to protect yourself from peritonitis by maintaining good hygiene before and after dialysis.
Infection of the peritoneal cavity can develop for many reasons Most often, the reason is perforation Peritonitis can also develop without perforation, although this condition is rare and is called spontaneous peritonitis.
Causes of perforation and subsequent peritonitis include:
- Medical procedures such as peritoneal dialysis At this time, tubes (catheters) are used, through which waste products are removed from the blood, because the kidneys can no longer function. Infection may be caused by violation of hygiene norms or by contamination of used instruments Peritonitis can also develop after abdominal surgery Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity - paracentesis is also associated with the risk of peritonitis Rarely, peritonitis develops as a result of colonoscopy or endoscopy
- Perforated worm intestine, stomach ulcer or colon Any of these conditions is followed by the spread of bacteria into the peritoneal cavity
- Pancreatitis Inflammation of the pancreas – pancreatitis is a complication of an infection that causes peritonitis
- Diverticulosis Infection and subsequent perforation of small cecal appendages leads to peritonitis, as intestinal contents spill into the abdominal cavity after rupture of the appendage.
- trauma Injury or trauma causes peritonitis if bacteria or chemicals enter the peritoneum from other parts of the body.
Peritonitis that develops spontaneously and is not associated with perforation is usually a complication of liver diseases such as cirrhosis. In case of advanced cirrhosis, fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity - ascites Fluid retention is associated with a higher risk of bacterial infection
Signs and symptoms of peritonitis include:
- abdominal pain, tenderness
- bloating or mass in the abdomen
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- indigestion
- diarrhea
- less urination See your doctor immediately if you experience severe abdominal pain, bloating, or fullness accompanied by:
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lower urine output
- Thirst
- Inability to pass stools or pass gas
