peritonitis

—peritonitic /per'i tn it"ik/, peritonital, adj.

/per'i tn uy"tis/, n. Pathol.

inflammation of the peritoneum, often accompanied by pain and tenderness in the abdomen, vomiting, constipation, and moderate fever.

[1770-80; PERITON(EUM) + -ITIS]

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Inflammation of the peritoneum (see abdominal cavity), with pus accumulating between the parietal and the visceral peritoneum, abdominal pain and distension, vomiting, and fever.

It may be acute or chronic, local or generalized. Acute peritonitis usually results from inflammation elsewhere (e.g., by spread of bacterial infection). Primary peritonitis often comes from a perforated gastrointestinal tract, as with rupture in appendicitis. Control of the source problem may be followed by remission, adhesions, or abscesses (much rarer since the development of antibiotics).

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      inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal wall and then folds in to enclose the abdominal organs. The condition is marked by an accumulation of cells, pus, and other bodily fluids, such as serum and fibrin, in the peritoneal cavity (between the two folds of the peritoneal membrane) and by abdominal pain and distension, vomiting, and fever.

      Peritonitis may be acute or chronic, generalized or localized. Acute peritonitis is usually caused by inflammation elsewhere in the body and may be due to a number of causes, such as bacterial invasion from an infected structure, blood or other fluids from a ruptured organ. A perforated gastrointestinal tract, notably a ruptured appendix, is a common cause of peritonitis.

      Treatment of peritonitis is directed toward control of the source of inflammation. Surgery is often necessary to remove the source of infection, such as the appendix, or to repair a perforation. If localized abscesses have developed in the peritoneal cavity, antibiotic therapy and drainage are necessary.

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