Its usually due to a bacterial or fungal infection, and the primary symptom is severestomach pain.
Symptoms
Symptoms of peritonitis can be serious and excruciating.
The abdomen might also look or feel bloated.
Verywell / JR Bee
If you show any signs of peritonitis, go to the emergency room or call an ambulance right away.
The severity of these symptoms often depends on what caused the inflammation in the first place.
Causes
Peritonitis shows up when body fluids like blood or pus pool in the abdominal cavity.
Why this happens, however, can vary.
The two primary causes of peritonitis are spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (also called primary peritonitis) and secondary peritonitis.
Those with cirrhosis are particularly vulnerable to severe cases of primary peritonitis.
Anywhere from40-70%of adults with cirrhosis who develop SBP die from it.
Examination can be impossible for some patients with severe pain.
For secondary peritonitis, surgery is sometimes necessary to eliminate the source of infection.
A Word From Verywell
Peritonitis can be fatal if it isnt treated as soon as possible.
Koulaouzidis A, Bhat S, Karagiannidis A, et al.Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.Postgrad Med J2007;83:37983.
Levison M.Peritonitis and intraperitoneal abscesses.
Rimola A, Garcia-Tsao G, Navasa M, et al.
Diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a consensus document.J Hepatol2000;32:14253.
