Peritonitis

Peritonitis is inflammation, usually from infection, of the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the abdominal wall and covers most abdominal organs. It arises when blood, body fluids or pus collect in the abdomen, often after a burst ulcer or appendix, bowel perforation, diverticular disease, pancreatitis, surgery or injury. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs in people with ascites from long-term liver damage, certain cancers or heart failure, and contaminated peritoneal dialysis equipment is a rare cause. Typical features are severe abdominal pain and tenderness, with bloating, fever, a rapid heartbeat, nausea and reduced urine output; sepsis is a serious complication. Assessment combines abdominal examination with blood tests, x-rays or CT scans, and analysis of fluid drawn from the abdomen. Untreated, it can become life threatening, so treatment is urgent, in hospital with intravenous antibiotics, surgery or both, plus correction of the underlying cause.

Seek urgent care for vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing. See a doctor for heartburn more than twice a week, a change in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, or unexplained weight loss. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.